'Simply embarrassing': Norway’s Crown Princess had years of contact with Epstein, called him 'sweetheart'

Crown Princess Mette-Marit said her relationship with Epstein was ‘simply embarrassing’.

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit regretted her connection with Jeffrey Epstein as the 52-year-old's past emails with the sex offender were released by the US Department of Justice on January 30.

The files show her years of extensive contact with Epstein. The latest tranche of Epstein files appear to include nearly 1,000 mentions of the Crown Princess.

The files include scores of emails traded between the two, suggesting they were in contact from 2011 to 2014, the Norwegian daily VG reported. Mette-Marit married the future king of Norway in 2001.

In one of her emails, she informed Epstein that she 'Googles' about him and "it did not look good". But the correspondence continued.

In 2012, Epstein wrote to the Crown Princess that he was on a wife hunt. "What is the weather like? I am on my wife hunt. Paris is proving interesting, but I prefer Scandinavians," Epstein wrote.

In other emails, the Crown Princess called Epstein charming and a sweetheart. In one email, she asked Epstein if it was inappropriate for her as a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for her 15-year-old son's wallpaper.

After the files were released by the DOJ, the Crown Princess issued a statement taking responsibility for her action. She said it is embarrassing. "Jeffrey Epstein is solely responsible for his actions. I must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein's background more thoroughly and for not realizing sooner what kind of person he was," she said, according to a report by The Times of India.

"I deeply regret this and it is a responsibility I must bear. I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing," the statement read.

Meanwhile, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has said he agrees with Crown Princess Mette-Marit's admission of "poor judgement" after the files emerged, BBC reported.

Trial of Mette-Marit's son

The revelations come at a sensitive time for the royal family. The trial of Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby for rape is due to begin on Tuesday. He was born from a relationship before she married Crown Prince Haakon, according to The Guardian.

Høiby is facing 38 charges, including the alleged rape of four women as well as alleged assault and drug offences. If convicted he could face up to 16 years in prison. Høiby has denied the most serious charges, including those of sexual abuse.