What Lessons Has the Royal House Learned from the Epstein Case? The Question is Entirely Valid.

As a historian specializing in monarchical history, I find the ongoing questions surrounding the Royal House's connection to the Jeffrey Epstein affair deeply concerning and entirely pertinent. While the Storting has reaffirmed Norway's commitment to a monarchy, it is incumbent upon the institution itself to function with the utmost integrity and transparency. The recent admission by Kristin Clemet, head of the right-wing think tank Civita, that she has only now, after twenty years, read the Palace's annual report, speaks volumes about the political establishment's disinterest in the monarchy's inner workings.

The Palace professes a commitment to openness, yet this openness is selectively curated. The Crown Prince, while generally accessible, exhibits frustration when pressed on personal matters like Princess Märtha Louise's associations or Marius Borg Høiby. His reluctance to address Epstein directly, coupled with the Crown Princess's initial evasion, has only amplified public scrutiny. The truth about her continued contact with Epstein, a convicted sex offender, only emerged years later from external sources, severely damaging the trust placed in her and the institution.

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det [er] opp til henne og Kongehuset å forsøke å gjenvinne den tilliten hun eller Kongehuset har tapt

The monarchy's legitimacy rests entirely on public trust. The Crown Princess has, in this instance, eroded that trust significantly. While Clemet suggests she and the Royal House must work to regain it, the path forward remains unclear as long as fundamental questions linger unanswered. The failed NRK interview, where the Crown Princess erected barriers of privacy and refusal, further alienated the public. The Crown Prince's own admission of awareness of Epstein's contact, without acknowledging Epstein's conviction for child prostitution, leaves a critical question hanging: did he not know, or did he choose not to know?

From our perspective in Norway, this is not merely a matter of personal privacy; it is about the integrity of the institution that represents our nation. Western media often focuses on the sensational aspects, but for us, it's about the foundational principles of accountability and trust that underpin the monarchy. The Royal House must understand that they are never truly private individuals; the crown is always worn, even in their personal time. Failing to provide clear, honest answers on the Epstein matter not only undermines their credibility but also risks a broader disillusionment with the monarchy itself. The question of what lessons have truly been learned remains, regrettably, unanswered.

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Hvilke lærdommer har kongehuset tatt av Epstein-saken? Spørsmålet er helt på sin plass.