General News & Information about Haakon,Mette-Marit & Family 1: July 2014 - June 2020

[Alisa]

What is the latest on this?

https://royalcentral.co.uk/europe/n...ved-in-norwegian-russian-spy-exchange-133159/

 

[eya]

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended a concert at Oslo’s Concert Hall tonight

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iwLJnANzX/

 

[WillVictoria]

Apparently, Prince Andrew wasn't the only royal to meet the late and disgraced Jeffrey Epstein. Crown Princess Mette-Marit is now apologizing for meeting with Epstein after his conviction for soliciting an underage prostitute, including one meeting at his house.
https://www.dn.no/utenriks/jeffrey-...estigated-his-past-more-thoroughly/2-1-716538

 

[Lumutqueen]

This is a surprise;

https://twitter.com/x/status/1201500748791631872

 

[Zaira]

This honestly doesn't surprise me...

 

[Muhler]

More on the story here:

Mette Marit has pulled an Andrew.

https://www.bt.dk/royale/norsk-kronprinsesse-moedtes-med-jeffrey-epstein-nu-beklager-hun
https://www.dn.no/politikk/jeffrey-...og-beklager-at-jeg-ikke-gjorde-det/2-1-715469

And in English: https://www.dn.no/utenriks/jeffrey-...estigated-his-past-more-thoroughly/2-1-716538

It is confirmed she met with Jeffrey Epstein several times at his home between 2011-2013. That is after he was convicted of sexual abuse.
They met through mutual acquaintances, MM esplains.
The meetings took place in USA but one took place in Norway.

The meeting were always social events, meaning that they were never alone.
MM decided to sever the connection with Epstein when she learned that he used to connection with her, to reach other persons.

MM has through the court issued a statement:
Jeg ville aldri hatt noe med Epstein å gjøre dersom jeg hadde vært klar over alvorlighetsgraden av hans kriminelle handlinger. Jeg burde undersøkt Epsteins fortid nærmere, og beklager at jeg ikke gjorde det.
Gjennom mitt langvarige arbeid med internasjonale helsespørsmål har jeg sett på nært hold de store skadene seksuelle overgrep påfører barn og kvinner. Vi har alle medansvar for å bekjempe seksuelle overgrep og støtte ofrene, og jeg ønsker å uttrykke min dype sympati og solidaritet med ofrene for de overgrep Jeffrey Epstein har begått.

The court and MM declines to elaborate further.

 

[Marengo]

I suppose it is good damage control to get ahead of the story and go public with this matter.

Apparently Haakon met him once, when MM and him came across Epstein while walking around in St. Barths.

 

[wartenberg7]

More on the story here:

Mette Marit has pulled an Andrew.

I think one can hardly compare the two cases...


What are they trying to do? Blame everyone who ever was in contact or socialised with the guy?!

 

[Lumutqueen]

I think one can hardly compare the two cases...


What are they trying to do? Blame everyone who ever was in contact or socialised with the guy?!

I believe Muhler is referring to MM attempting to get ahead of any announcements by announcing herself and apologising for it.

 

[polyesco]

If I remember correctly Mette-Marit and Haakon had been criticized before over their friendships and associating with the "rich jetset"....

It's good that MM has put out a statement but the question remains why the contact remained even after he was convicted.

 

[fortimo]

Why did she that? Epstein is dead. I never read, that she met him or knew him... Nobody cared... Than why is it news now?

 

[WillVictoria]

If I remember correctly Mette-Marit and Haakon had been criticized before over their friendships and associating with the "rich jetset"....

It's good that MM has put out a statement but the question remains why the contact remained even after he was convicted.

To me what's more confusing is that MM's contact with Epstein started after his conviction. Even Andrew, for all his faults, can claim he started the friendship before knowing what Epstein was doing.

Meanwhile, MM only met him post-conviction yet still seems to play the ignorance card. I find it odd that she claims she broke off the friendship only because she thought Epstein was using her to get more "friends". Are we expected to believe MM spent two years being friends with him and no one told her he was a convicted sex offender?

 

[Lumutqueen]

Why did she that? Epstein is dead. I never read, that she met him or knew him... Nobody cared... Than why is it news now?

Same reason it’s believed Andrew did the interview, they’re getting ahead of something bigger.

 

[polyesco]

"Initially the palace admitted the princess had 'a relation' with Epstein but then 11 days after first being contacted about the allegations, confirmed their were several meetings."
Epstein donated large amounts of money to the International Peace Institute in New York that is run by former Norwegian diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen, reports in the Norwegian media revealed.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...-meeting-Jeffrey-Epstein-2008-conviction.html

 

[Nordic]

I suppose it is good damage control to get ahead of the story and go public with this matter.

https://www.dn.no/politikk/jeffrey-...og-beklager-at-jeg-ikke-gjorde-det/2-1-715469



"DN has mapped out Norwegian connections to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who earlier this year took his own life after being charged with sexual assault and human trafficking. In connection with this work, DN has been informed that Crown Princess Mette-Marit had a relationship with Epstein, and therefore asked the palace questions about this on 22 November."

"The Crown Princess now admits that between 2011 and 2013 she met Epstein on several occasions"

 

[carlota]

To me what's more confusing is that MM's contact with Epstein started after his conviction. Even Andrew, for all his faults, can claim he started the friendship before knowing what Epstein was doing.

Meanwhile, MM only met him post-conviction yet still seems to play the ignorance card. I find it odd that she claims she broke off the friendship only because she thought Epstein was using her to get more "friends". Are we expected to believe MM spent two years being friends with him and no one told her he was a convicted sex offender?

i agree - it would seem odd that someone like the princess of norway wouldn't have a network of advisors well acquainted with public affairs who would know what epstein was going through and hadn't advised MM...

 

[Muhler]

I believe Muhler is referring to MM attempting to get ahead of any announcements by announcing herself and apologising for it.

Correct. The Norwegian press was writing about it.

Why did she that? Epstein is dead. I never read, that she met him or knew him... Nobody cared... Than why is it news now?

Because the Norwegian press started to write about it and requested a comment.
- And now an elaboration to the statement given by MM. Which has been declined so far.

I really wonder why D. Trump, who reportedly had periodacally regular contact with E., seems to be pretty unmolested of all the debate...?! He has, of course, enough to do with dealing a range of other scandals - but still!

[Mod. note: removed sentence containing a reply to deleted post about the American president]

Apart from that a person like Epstein would have associated with thousands of people in varying degree of "positions" - from presidents and royals and down.
The problem is more what kind of association and when.

Meeting Epstein at some social function can hardly be a problem for anyone. Even repeatedly.
However, attending social functions at Epstein's home on several occasions is potentially ill advised. Especially after his sentence.
That is of course what Mette Marit points out in her statement.

I do not believe for one second that Mette Marit would want to be even in same room as someone like Epstein, if she knew about him.
However. Statistically among the thousands of people royals associate with there is bound to be some bad apples here and there.
If anyone are to be blamed it is IMO the "friend" who introduced her to Epstein (particularly at this time) and who took her to social events at his home several times. That person must have known about Epstein.
I imagine that the "friend" used Mette Marit. The purpose being to associate her with Epstein in some capacity, so that he (Epstein) could make use of her name and position - as indeed her statement says.

 

[WillVictoria]

Correct. The Norwegian press was writing about it.



Because the Norwegian press started to write about it and requested a comment.
- And now an elaboration to the statement given by MM. Which has been declined so far.



[…]

Apart from that a person like Epstein would have associated with thousands of people in varying degree of "positions" - from presidents and royals and down.
The problem is more what kind of association and when.

Meeting Epstein at some social function can hardly be a problem for anyone. Even repeatedly.
However, attending social functions at Epstein's home on several occasions is potentially ill advised. Especially after his sentence.
That is of course what Mette Marit points out in her statement.

I do not believe for one second that Mette Marit would want to be even in same room as someone like Epstein, if she knew about him.
However. Statistically among the thousands of people royals associate with there is bound to be some bad apples here and there.
If anyone are to be blamed it is IMO the "friend" who introduced her to Epstein (particularly at this time) and who took her to social events at his home several times. That person must have known about Epstein.
I imagine that the "friend" used Mette Marit. The purpose being to associate her with Epstein in some capacity, so that he (Epstein) could make use of her name and position - as indeed her statement says.

It also, to some degree, is on MM and her staff for being so naive/ignorant. I simply can't fathom that no one on the NRF staff knew of MM's friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and didn't think to "check him out". Either the staff and MM dropped the ball by not looking into Epstein's past (which literally would have taken a google search) or they did and someone decided they didn't care.

 

[Erin9]

This honestly doesn't surprise me...

Nope. Lots of rich, high-profile people kept associating with him after his conviction.

Only some are really getting called out for it though.

 

[camelot23ca]

To me the two scenarios are very different. At least from what we know so far. Andrew was friendly with Jeffrey Epstein both before and after the conviction. I don’t believe Andrew when he tries to downplay the degree of friendship, especially in light of the loan to Sarah way back when. I’m not saying they were best friends but I think they were very likely friendly enough that Andrew would have known the details of the conviction as soon as it happened.

I think it’s plausible MM is telling the truth when she says she was unaware of the severity or details of Epstein’s conviction. Haakon and MM have never hidden the fact that they’re very social and know
some wealthy and similarly social people. Which means they have a ton of acquaintances and it would not be uncommon for them to be at the home of someone they don’t know particularly well. If the statement that’s been given is completely truthful I don’t think there’s an issue. If it turns out there’s more that’s obviously different.

 

[Somebody]

This honestly doesn't surprise me...

Did you expect specifically Mette-Marit to be his friend; or is the 'no surprise' related to other royals in general also being in touch with him?

 

[Marengo]

References to the American president have been deleted.

 

[Alisa]

Personally, I believe that Mette-Marit is not the only royal who have had some sort of relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
I have a few good hunches.

What I don't understand though is how or why would Mette-Marit have any association with Epstein AFTER his conviction. That makes no sense.. I am wondering if Mette-Marit is trying to get ahead of the story because of fear of photos, correspondence, or videos being leaked.

 

[tommy100]

Well at least MM unlike Andrew apologised and acknowledged it was wrong to be associated with him. I guess if MM only met him in social situations its easier to believe she didn't know about his conviction, but that said, if she visited his house(s) repeatedly I would be really surprised she or people working for her didn't know more about him. I get turning up at his house for party once or twice but staying in his house you'd surely want to know more than just his name and that he is very rich. I find it interesting that MM said about Epstein seemingly using her for the connections and status she brings, wonder if Andrew and others ever thought the same or if MM for just more perceptive.

The biggest thing this shows IMO is that we'll just never understand the life these people lead, clearly both to Andrew and MM its okay to stay with and be friends with people you don't know that much about and stay and visit their homes regularly enjoying the benefits of their great wealth.

 

[O-H Anglophile]

I did not read that Mette-Marit or Haakon stayed at Epstein’s house, just that they met several times at his home(s) at social occasions and once in Norway. All sorts of people went to parties at his house. Lots and lots of people.

And remember, even though Epstein had a conviction for soliciting a prostitute (yes an under age girl)
a) prostitution is not illegal everywhere
b) he got a very favorable sentence with a very generous work release-without digging really deep or knowing what we now know, I’m not shocked he was still able to further his acquaintance with the rich and famous.

 

[Pranter]

What does prostitution being legal in X places have to do with the Epstein situation? MM knew he was a convicted sex offender but thought it was no big deal because it's legal? No sure what inference you are trying to draw out.


LaRae

 

[O-H Anglophile]

What does prostitution being legal in X places have to do with the Epstein situation? MM knew he was a convicted sex offender but thought it was no big deal because it's legal? No sure what inference you are trying to draw out.


LaRae

We don’t really know if Mette-Marit or Haakon knew anything at all about Epstein’s legal troubles in the last decade. I’m not implying anything about either of them.

But to play devil’s advocate— if someone was newly introduced to Epstein in this decade, before this year, and his conviction and sentencing somehow came up, I can understand how it could have been downplayed. A conviction for soliciting a prostitute, might not be a big deal in some people’s minds. The underage aspect could be explained as a misunderstanding.
Epstein got a slap on the wrist, so I can understand why he was able to carry on.
He was undercharged and undersentenced, so superficially it didn’t look that awful.
From various stories, even some people who vaguely knew about his conviction seemed to dismiss it as no big deal.

It was the Miami Herald’s story THIS YEAR that brought this all really out into the open. That is what led to the serious charges and turned Epstein into a pariah.

 

[Pranter]

Given the way ppl talk (regardless of social circle) I find it hard to believe ppl in his social circle didn't know he was a convicted sex offender.

It's rather disgusting that he only got a slap, did no jail time even for his conviction.

It will be interesting to see how the fallout continues.


LaRae

 

[amaryllus]

Please. Society tongues would gossip and Cluck about such juicy News as a person of Epstein’s history and rep socializing with Royalty. H&MM had to have some idea about him.

 

[O-H Anglophile]

Please. Society tongues would gossip and Cluck about such juicy News as a person of Epstein’s history and rep socializing with Royalty. H&MM had to have some idea about him.

What, some really, really rich guy with lots and lots of high powered friends? Because that was readily known about Epstein.