Spotted on Sunday, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands enjoyed a reunion with King Harald of Norway at the Winter Olympic Games. Pictured hugging the 88-year-old monarch, Maxima – who attended alongside her husband, King Willem-Alexander, and daughter, Princess Amalia – enjoyed a catch-up with the King, and his wife, Queen Sonja, while watching the men's 5000m speed skating finals. A royal reunion, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander have maintained a close bond with the Norwegian Royal family in recent years, and in 2021, were hosted by King Harald and Queen Sonja for a state visit.
© AlamyA heartfelt moment, Maxima, 54, continues to enjoy a heartfelt friendship with Europe's oldest reigning monarch, who is currently enduring Norway's 'annus horribilis'. A challenging time for the Norwegian Royals, King Harald's daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is facing widespread backlash for her friendship and email correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Furthermore, Marius Borg Høiby, Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship, is currently standing trial for multiple charges, including rape, domestic violence, aggravated assault and reckless behaviour.
© LISE ASERUD - GettyEarlier this month, Niklas Kokkinn-Thoresen, Editor-in-Chief of Se og Hør Norway, spoke with HELLO! about the long-term effects of Mette-Marit's family drama, given that she's married to Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the Norwegian throne. "The fact that Crown Princess Mette-Marit met Jeffrey Epstein both at his home and in Oslo, several years after he admitted to sexual abuse, is difficult for many to accept," Niklas began.
Explaining that Mette-Marit had previously been "very popular" in Norway and "perceived by many as down-to-earth and a good representative of the Royal House", the Editor-in-Chief noted that the latest Epstein documents had gravely impacted her reputation. "The revelations of the past few days place the Crown Princess in a very bad light and, not least, cast doubt on her honesty toward the Norwegian people. The Epstein case will definitely affect the monarchy – and especially her – in a negative way," Niklas explained.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit's statement
Last week, the Norwegian Royal Household released an official statement on behalf of Mette-Marit. "I would like to express my deepest regret for my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. It is important for me to apologise to all of you that I have disappointed," it began.
© Rune Hellestad - Corbis/Getty Images"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 that I have put the Royal Family in, especially the King and Queen." The Palace added that the Crown Princess hopes to "explain herself in more detail" over the coming weeks but is currently in a "demanding situation". "She hopes for understanding that she needs time to gather herself", the statement concluded.
