Mette-Marit maintained a close friendship with the American convicted sex offender [Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein) over several years. At the time it was reported that she met him several times between 2011 and 2013, after his conviction on charges of sex trafficking of minors in 2008 and release from prison.^(.)  

The Royal Palace's communications manager Guri Varpe asserted that she had ceased contact with Epstein in 2013, a claim that was since disproven by the release of the [Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files) where later emails were found.

While Mette-Marit was in frequent communication with Epstein and met him many times, her husband [Crown Prince Haakon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haakon,_Crown_Prince_of_Norway) reportedly only met him once at [St. Barts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Barts).Haakon's first girlfriend [Celina Midelfart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celina_Midelfart). was reportedly also the girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein in the 1990s, who claimed he "gave" her to [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump) as a girlfriend.

In 2026 newly released [Epstein files](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epstein_files) showed extensive contact between Mette-Marit and Epstein over several years, and that she is mentioned several hundred times in the released files. The correspondence showed that Epstein arranged cosmetic procedures for Mette-Marit, whom he addressed as "Mette," in [Palm Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Beach,_Florida).The files also show that Mette-Marit stayed with Epstein in his Palm Beach home, while inviting each other to have dinner or go shopping together. The Epstein files also revealed that Mette-Marit had maintained contact with Epstein as late as 2014, eight years since his conviction for child sexual abuse, despite having insisted she ceased all contact a year earlier.

Experts said the Epstein files paint a totally different picture of Mette-Marit's relationship with Epstein than previous revelations or her own claims. Mette-Marit's communications with Epstein appeared to be intimate and personal rather than professional. For example, in 2012 Mette-Marit writes to Epstein: "You tickle my brain." In other exchanges she asks questions like "how is island life," referring to the [Epstein island](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Saint_James) where he abused young girls. 

Norway Princess with the alleged rapist son is in the Epstein Files