Norway's Crown Princess 'gathering herself' after recent Epstein email bombshell

Norway's Crown Princess has been forced to issue another statement after the latest drop of the Epstein files revealed her three-year friendship with the convicted sex offender.

Emails released by the US Justice Department last week revealed that Mette-Marit and Jeffrey Epstein exchanged hundreds of friendly messages over three years.

The revelation has caused intense backlash from the people and press of Norway, with the Palace today releasing a second statement after the princess initially expressed regret and admitted her "poor judgment."

The Palace said today that the Crown Princess "strongly disavows Epstein's abuse and criminal acts," adding she is "very sorry for not having understood early enough what kind of person he was".

The statement goes on to say that Mette-Marit wishes to speak more on the matter but "cannot do so now" as she needs time to "gather herself" in this "very difficult situation".

"I would like to express my deepest regret for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein," Mette-Marit said in the statement released today.

"It is important for me to apologise to all of you that I have disappointed."

READ MORE: How Sydney makeup artist went on to make Olympic history

READ MORE: Julian McMahon's wife accepts his posthumous award at AACTAs

READ MORE: The fear Laura Dern conquered in Byron Bay

"Some of the content of the messages between Epstein and me does not represent the person I want to be.

"I also apologise for the situation that I have put the Royal Family in, especially the King and Queen."

The emails detailed plans for the pair to meet in person, and also revealed the princess had spent four days at Epstein's Palm Beach home in Florida while he was not there.

One email, sent from the Crown Princess' official account on October 23, 2011, implies she had become aware of his initial jail term in 2008 for sex crimes against an underage girl.

The princess wrote, "Googled u after last email...agree, didn't look too good."

In another email, in 2012, Mette-Marit asked Epstein whether a mother should suggest naked women carrying a surfboard for her son's wallpaper.

The son in question was likely Marius Borg Høiby, who was 15 at the time, from a previous relationship before she married Norway's heir, Crown Prince Haakon.

Høiby, now 29, is on trial for rape and assault in Oslo and is facing 10 years in prison if convicted.

After the bombshell emails, the Palace confirmed that Mette-Marit did stay at Epstein's home Florida home, but stated the princess had no idea about the sex crimes he was jailed for in 2008, or the sex trafficking ring, which was in operation while they were friendly.

Correspondence between the Crown Princess and Epstein began in 2011 and lasted until 2014, revealing Mette-Marit had a closer relationship with the disgraced financier than she has previously let on.

Last week, Crown Princess Mette-Marit said she "showed poor judgment and regret having any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing."

She also expressed her "deep sympathy and solidarity with the victims of the abuses committed by Jeffrey Epstein".

"I must take responsibility for not checking Epstein's background more thoroughly and for not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was. I deeply regret that, and this is a responsibility I must take," the statement went on to say.

This week, a new poll conducted on behalf of Norwegian news outlet TV2, found 47.6 per cent of people do not believe Crown Princess Mette-Marit should become Norway's next queen when the time comes.

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.