Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has publicly addressed her ties to Jeffrey Epstein, saying she was misled and expressing regret for not checking his background more closely.
The 20-minute interview with public broadcaster NRK came after seven weeks of silence, following the release of millions of documents by the US Department of Justice.
Those files showed the crown princess exchanged hundreds of emails with Epstein between 2011 and 2014 and stayed at his Palm Beach home in 2013 when he was not present.
She told NRK she felt taken advantage of and criticised herself for being too trusting.
Mette-Marit said she ended direct contact with Epstein after a final stay at his house left her uneasy, and that she rang her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, to say she felt unsafe.
The princess maintained she did not understand the full scale of Epstein’s abuse at the time, and admitted she should have done more to learn about his past.
She also apologised and accepted responsibility for her poor judgment.
Norwegian leaders and media had pressed her for answers, including Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Critics say the interview raised more questions than it resolved because she declined to give detailed accounts of what occurred during her visits.
Several commentators argued the palace should have been informed earlier.
Historian and TV2 royal correspondent Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen said the episode highlights a mismatch between the royal family’s private instincts and the public responsibilities of their office.
The broadcast was recorded on the final day of the rape trial of Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, which began in February after the Epstein documents made her links public.
The trial continues and a verdict is not expected until June.
Mette-Marit, 52, also spoke about her health.
She has pulmonary fibrosis, and the interview was limited in length because of breathing difficulties.
She said whether she continues public duties will depend on how her illness progresses.
Crown Prince Haakon appeared alongside his wife and said the couple remain united after more than 25 years of marriage.
Royal correspondents, however, say Norwegians expect clearer transparency from the royal household going forward.
The crown princess had previously acknowledged contact with Epstein in 2019, but the newly released files revealed the full extent of their correspondence and renewed scrutiny of her role and judgment.
