Norway's Royal Institution Confronts Unprecedented Dual Crisis
Norway's monarchy faces one of its most challenging periods in recent history as two separate but interconnected scandals have simultaneously rocked the royal household, creating what observers describe as a perfect storm of controversy that threatens to fundamentally alter public perception of the institution.
The Dual Scandals Shaking the Royal Foundation
Two distinct yet equally damaging crises have emerged within Norway's royal family, creating what political commentators are calling a multigenerational challenge to the institution's stability and public standing. The timing could hardly be worse, with King Harald - Europe's oldest reigning monarch - approaching his 89th birthday later this month under circumstances that offer little cause for celebration.
On one front, Marius Borg Høiby, the king's step-grandson who joined the royal family when his mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, stands trial in Oslo facing 38 serious charges. These allegations include multiple counts of rape involving four different women, alongside accusations of domestic violence and other criminal behaviour.
Simultaneously, Crown Princess Mette-Marit herself faces intense public scrutiny and political pressure following revelations contained within the recently released Jeffrey Epstein files. These documents, made public by the US justice department, contain nearly 1,000 mentions of the crown princess and detail her years-long relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Courtroom Drama and Political Fallout
The legal proceedings against Høiby have captivated the Norwegian public, with the defendant pleading not guilty to the most serious charges of rape and domestic violence during the trial's opening day. However, in a development permitted under Norwegian law, he acknowledged partial guilt for aggravated assault and reckless behaviour while admitting to lesser charges including excessive speeding.
Meanwhile, the Epstein revelations have triggered a political earthquake within Norway's establishment. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre broke with longstanding tradition by publicly criticising the crown princess, agreeing with her own assessment that she had shown "poor judgement" while calling for greater transparency about her relationship with Epstein.
This unprecedented prime ministerial intervention represents a significant departure from conventional protocol regarding royal family matters. As Kjetil B Alstadheim, political editor at Aftenposten, noted: "I have not found any example from earlier where a prime minister has criticised a member of the royal family in that way."
Royal Response and Public Sentiment Shift
The royal family has responded to the escalating crisis with a mixture of public statements and private solidarity. Crown Princess Mette-Marit issued a formal statement expressing her "deepest regret for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein" and apologising for "the situation that I have put the royal family in, especially the king and queen."
Crown Prince Haakon, speaking to reporters, acknowledged the extraordinary pressure facing his family, stating: "We support Marius in the situation he is in, we look after the other children, they must also be looked after, and I have to look after and take care of the crown princess. Fortunately, she takes care of me, too."
Despite these efforts, public support for the monarchy has experienced a dramatic decline. Recent polling data reveals a significant erosion of confidence, with support for Norway maintaining its monarchy dropping from 72% in 2024 to just 54% today. Perhaps more tellingly, approximately half of Norwegians now believe Mette-Marit should not become queen when Crown Prince Haakon eventually ascends to the throne.
Institutional Implications and Future Challenges
The dual crises present fundamentally different challenges to the royal institution. While Høiby's legal troubles represent what Alstadheim describes as a "side story" involving someone who is not an official member of the royal family, the Epstein revelations strike at the heart of the monarchy's future leadership.
"She is supposed to be queen one day, so that's more difficult," Alstadheim explained. "The others are side stories. Difficult stories but side stories. So it hits the family in a more direct way."
The situation has become particularly poignant given that, as recently as December, the crown princess enjoyed widespread public sympathy when she revealed her struggle with pulmonary fibrosis and the likelihood of requiring a lung transplant. Now, some organisations for which she serves as royal patron are reportedly reconsidering their association with her.
Political Context and Constitutional Considerations
Despite the apparent surge in republican sentiment among the general public, Norway's political establishment has maintained its support for the monarchy. In a parliamentary vote held on Tuesday - coincidentally timed amid the unfolding scandals - only 26 MPs voted in favour of establishing a republic, compared to 141 who supported maintaining the monarchy.
This represents even stronger parliamentary backing than in June 2022, when 35 MPs voted for republican change. The constitutional requirement for abolishing the monarchy demands a two-thirds majority, making any immediate change unlikely despite the current controversies.
Alstadheim suggests that parliamentarians are taking "a longer horizon than the current news cycle" in their assessment, while republican advocates argue the vote should have been postponed until more information emerged about the royal family's difficulties.
Unanswered Questions and Institutional Resilience
Journalists covering the unfolding drama emphasise that many Norwegians await further clarification from Crown Princess Mette-Marit regarding the full nature of her relationship with Epstein. Vilde Helljesen of state broadcaster NRK notes that while the crown princess has expressed regret and apologised, "the recent files have left new questions unanswered."
Constitutionally, the situation remains clear: only the monarch possesses the authority to grant or remove royal titles. As Helljesen explains: "As long as Mette-Marit is the wife of the heir to the throne, she will one day be queen - or the title that the king at the time decides. That is the formality."
How the royal institution navigates these unprecedented challenges will prove crucial to its long-term standing. As Alstadheim observes, the handling of the Epstein files issue will significantly influence "how they are viewed in the weeks and months and years to come," determining whether the current crisis represents a temporary setback or a more fundamental turning point for Norway's centuries-old monarchy.
