Norway’s royal family is facing an exceptionally difficult period as King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit deal with several major challenges at once.
Mette-Marit has come under renewed scrutiny following the release of documents detailing her past contact with Jeffrey Epstein. She has publicly apologised for the relationship and said she regretted ever meeting him. Norwegian authorities are now examining wider links between Epstein and prominent figures in the country, although Mette-Marit herself is not part of the parliamentary hearings.
At the same time, her son Marius Borg Høiby, 29, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of rape, domestic violence and other offences. His defence team has appealed three counts, meaning another court hearing is expected.
The pressure has also come during a serious health crisis for Mette-Marit. She underwent a lung transplant in June and remains in a lengthy rehabilitation period.
Despite speculation about their marriage, there is currently no confirmed evidence that Haakon and Mette-Marit are separating or in a serious marital conflict. Their public appearances and statements instead show a couple navigating an extraordinary family crisis together.
