Crown Princess Mette-Marit got caught up in the glamour of Jeffrey Epstein. She was in love with a man who had unimaginable wealth and socialised with the greats. He had a direct and uninhibited manner that invited people to be cosy. Mette-Marit fell for the method he used to gain access to people and lure them out.

The palace now says that they have incorrectly stated that the connection was broken in 2013. It lasted until the end of 2014. But that is not decisive. What is revealing is that Mette-Marit allowed herself to be flattered and fell for being picked up by a private driver and spending the night in the mansion in Palm Beach. Being treated like royalty is irresistible when the surroundings are in style.

Epstein had the largest private home in New York, a ranch in Texas, an apartment in Paris and an island of his own in addition to his Palm Beach mansion. Of course, he had to have a specially converted 747 to ferry him between all these places. Nobody asked where the money came from. No one calculated how much all the places cost together. In other words: Someone has known, but they’re not talking. This is probably also why the Minister of Justice, Pam Bondi, suddenly said that there were no customer lists. The file was empty.

Epstein was protected. He had “mighty friends”.

Now the bodies are rolling out of the closet, and one of those whose wings are burnt is Norway’s future queen. She otherwise has enough on her plate: Poor health and a son who is going to court next week with a gaggle of journalists – Norwegian and foreign. Will anyone see the mother’s poor eyesight in connection with her son’s? That conclusion is obvious.

Mette-Marit begins her relationship with Epstein with a killer email:

Epstein was convicted in his first sexual assault case in Florida. The case was scaled down by the “powerful friends” in Washington. But he was convicted of having sex with minors, which is devastating for his reputation. But not for the people Epstein attracted. Including Mette-Marit. If you belong to the right circles, the same rules don’t apply. Look at Bill Clinton, look at Gates.

Damage control

The castle engages in what is called damage control. Nobody wants to get caught in Epstein’s net. This applied to hundreds of famous people.

Mette-Marit spent four days in Epstein’s magnificent seaside villa in Palm Beach with a friend. (Who was that?)

You don’t get invited to stay at the villa unless a connection has been built up over time.

Epstein had a “you” tone that characterises digital communication, and he knew how to exploit it if the other party responded in the same way. In this way, “innocent” exchanges could lead to closer connections. It helped that Epstein was fabulously wealthy, had powerful associates and jet-set around the world.

Mette-Marit had the title, Epstein had the connections and could deliver services.

“Mette will arrive at Miami airport on Sunday. [Janusz will pick her up and take her to the house in Palm Beach”, reads the email.

They also met on the Caribbean island of St Barths, which is described as a luxury island, with pristine beaches and peaceful surroundings.

Press officer Guri Varpe says that Haakon Magnus was present when they met Epstein on the street.

According to a text message exchange a little later in January 2013 between “Mette” and “Jeffrey”, a meeting was arranged, where “Mette” writes: “If you walk towards the other side we’ll meet on the way. Im walking with the kids.”

The palace says that Mette-Marit can’t remember if the children were with her. She has travelled abroad to avoid being in Norway during the trial.

Epstein used diversions and everyday things as contact points, where he called in favours. People owed him favours. He offered to take Mette-Marit shopping at Prada in New York.

And so it goes on. Dentist? Teeth whitening? For birthdays, holidays … no wonder there were many emails. Some became entangled in Epstein’s web without quite realising it. Others were sucked into it as abusers or victims. We will never know how much Mette-Marit understood. Right now, she’s mostly concerned with saving her own skin.

In December 2011 Epstein wishes the Crown Princess a Merry Christmas. In response, he gets:

“Jeffrey Island?”

“You always make me smile. Because you ‘tickle’ my brain”, writes what will be the crown princess of Epstein in November 2012.

Epstein seemed like a getaway for Mette-Marit, who was bored at Skaugum in Oslo?

• In April 2012, a meeting with “Mette”, who lives in Oslo, is planned in Paris.
• On 25 November 2012, Epstein writes to what is supposed to be the Crown Princess that he will meet her in Oslo later in the week.
• On 6 January 2013, Epstein’s assistants plan for the Crown Princess to come to his house in Palm Beach, Florida, and for her to travel with her bodyguards.
• On 26 June 2013, an aide emails the Crown Princess and asks if she can meet Epstein the next day.
• On 25 September 2013, a breakfast with “Princess Mette” is planned, according to an email.
• On 30 October 2013, Epstein says he plans to come to Oslo next month.

Who wouldn’t be honoured to be invited on a shopping trip to Prada with a guide everyone knows and who can boast of bringing a real princess from Norway?

In the 1960s and 70s, people talked about life in the fast lane, and Mette-Marit has always liked «the speed».

Her name will now be associated with Epstein. She allowed herself to be caught up in the radiance. The consolation is that many other royals fared considerably worse.

The Telegram reported:

In emails to a contact listed as “The Duke”, the convicted sex offender wrote: “I have a friend who I think you would enjoy having dinner with. Her name is Irina and she will be in London 20-24. [sic].”

In response, the former Duke of York seemed to reply: “Of course. I will be in Geneva until the morning of the 22nd, but would like to see her. Will she take a message from you? Give her my contact details so she can get in touch.” […] Epstein later clarified that the woman was “26 years old, Russian, smart [sic], beautiful, reliable, and yes, she has your email address.”

.

“Andrew: How’s it going? Is it good to be free?

Epstein: … great to be free from a lot of things”

Subtle messages that keep the recipient guessing and invite them to use their imagination. This was a game Epstein perfected. He had unlimited resources, and someone put them at his disposal. The media never asks the question: Who?

But the answer is coming. Epstein is too big not to put the pieces together for an answer.