Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit has given a 'profound apology' to Norwegians for her friendship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, after it emerged they had exchanged messages for three years. 'I also apologise for the situation in which I have placed the Royal House, especially the King and Queen,' she said in a palace statement after days of mounting pressure to address the issue. King Harald V and Queen Sonja, both 88, have not commented on the revelations. The King met Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre alongside Crown Prince Haakon, who noted that his wife wished to address the situation but felt unable to at this time. Recently uncovered correspondence revealed plans to meet in person and indicated that Mette-Marit had even visited Epstein's Palm Beach residence while he was absent. The nature of these messages surprised many Norwegians, particularly as Mette-Marit had shown awareness of Epstein's prior imprisonment in 2008, admitting in communications that her judgment at the time was questionable. Following the initial public outcry, further details about her relationship with Epstein were demanded, leading to her expressing deep regret for failing to recognize his true character sooner. The Crown Princess cited her struggles and the difficulty of addressing the circumstances while attempting to gather her thoughts. In her statement, Mette-Marit emphasized her sorrow for disappointing numerous individuals and clarified that some of the exchanged content did not align with her values. As she navigates this challenging period, the public dialogue surrounding her past and the implications for the Norwegian Royal Family continue to unfold.