Norway's King and Queen break cover as the monarchy is dragged into the Epstein files

Norway's embattled King and Queen have made their first public appearance since the monarchy was dragged into the Epstein files saga and a member of the royal family went on trial for rape and assault.

King Harald V, 88, and his wife Queen Sonja, also 88, travelled to Italy for the start of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 at the weekend.

They were pictured in Milan in support of Norway's Olympic team and popped into the athletes' village to congratulate those who had been selected to take part in the competition and those who had already won medals.

The King and Queen looked jubilant as they cheered on team Norway, the Olympic Winter Games likely proving a welcome relief during what has been one of the most challenging periods faced by the House of Glücksburg.

At the weekend, Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued a second statement in as many weeks after her past links with Jeffrey Epstein came to light in the release of three million pages of texts and emails by the US Department of Justice.

The day before, on Friday, previously unpublished photos emerged showing Crown Princess Mette-Marit meeting with Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, in New York.

The photo was taken at the Clinton Global Initiative and show the two women smiling at each other. Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Høiby, who is now on trial for rape and assault, accompanied his mother to Manhattan for the event.

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The newly-released Epstein files appear to suggest Mette-Marit had exchanged more than 100 cordial emails and texts with Epstein while fully aware he had been jailed for sex offences against an underage girl in 2008.

She apologised, for the second time, for having any contact with Epstein but directed this statement to the King and Queen, her in-laws.

On Friday she said: "It is important for me to apologise to all of you whom I have disappointed.

"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 I have put the royal family in, especially the King and Queen."

In addition, the Royal House said the Crown Princess wanted to explain herself in more detail, but was unable to, adding that she "hopes for understanding that she needs time to gather her thoughts".

Soon after, during a visit to a kindergarten, her husband Crown Prince Haakon said: "The Crown Princess understands that there are many who want to hear from her … She would like to tell more about the case, and we hope there is understanding that she needs some time."

He added: "For me, the most important thing these past few days has been to take care of the flock.

"We support Marius in the situation he is in. We look after the other children as well. They also need to be cared for, and I have to make sure to take care of the crown princess."

The "other children" Crown Prince Haakon referred to are Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 22, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 20.

In a private Instagram post recently that was leaked to the media, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who is heir to the throne after her father, said of the recent scandals, "I am going crazy. When is enough."

The princess is due back in Australia by late February to resume her three-year degree at the University of Sydney.

Her brother, Høiby, went on trial in Oslo last week in a case that could last six more weeks.

Høiby has denied four allegations of rape as well as other serious charges against him. If convicted, the 29-year-old faces 10 years in prison.

Days before the trial began, on February 3, the Royal House said the King and Queen, nor the Crown Prince couple, would be attending court.

Support for the Norwegian monarchy was at 70 per cent a few weeks ago but plunged to 53 per cent, the lowest level ever recorded, last week.

Another poll, also conducted last week 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.

Mette-Marit's health has also been an issue dominating the headlines and causing worry for the monarchy.

In December, the Royal House of Norway said the princess's medical team had begun preparations with a view to assess the princess for a lung transplant. Her doctors have insisted she will not jump the transplant waitlist owing to her place in the royal family.

Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, which causes scarring in the lungs and leads to reduced oxygen uptake.

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