Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has marked 25 years of marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in Oslo. The couple celebrated their milestone after a quarter-century of royal life that transformed the former commoner from an unconventional outsider into Norway's future queen.
The anniversary arrives as the royal family navigates ongoing public scrutiny. Mette-Marit entered the royal house with an unconventional background, including a chaotic youth and status as a single mother, before taking her place on the European royal stage.
The couple married on August 25, 2001, at Oslo Cathedral. Mette-Marit crossed the threshold of the cathedral as a controversial partner and emerged as the wife of the heir to the Norwegian throne. Public opinion in Norway was initially skeptical of the union, but Crown Prince Haakon insisted on marrying her with the backing of his father, King Harald V.
The wedding ceremony featured then Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, who is now the Danish monarch, serving as best man. Following the romantic service, Mette-Marit faced the immediate challenge of earning the trust of the Norwegian public after years of personal turmoil.
Turbulent youth and personal struggles
Mette-Marit's early life was marked by difficulty following a high school exchange trip to Australia during her teenage years. Attempting to cope with an alcoholic and violent father, she began drinking alcohol, which led to years of heavy use. After returning to Norway, she engaged in illegal drug use, developing a preference for ecstasy, LSD, and cocaine.
She later became involved with John Ognby, an electronic music DJ 15 years her senior who was active in the rave scene. Ognby had an extensive criminal record involving drug use, drug trafficking, drunk driving, and violent incidents. Although the couple planned to marry, the wedding was canceled after Mette-Marit had an affair with Ognby's close friend, Morten Borg.
The relationship with Morten Borg led to the birth of her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby. Morten Borg was in prison when his son was born, initiating a pattern of legal trouble that would recur years later. Mette-Marit had additional relationships with other DJs before meeting Crown Prince Haakon.
Courtship and the engagement apology
Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon met in the summer of 1997 at the Quart music festival. They kept their romance private before moving together into an apartment in central Oslo. Just two months after cohabitating, Crown Prince Haakon proposed to her.
The prince had expressed a willingness to renounce his succession rights to the throne if necessary to marry her. However, King Harald V supported the marriage, having fought his own decades-long battle to marry a commoner. The king required Mette-Marit to express public remorse for her past lifestyle.
At a formal press conference announcing their engagement, Mette-Marit bowed her head, condemned her prior behavior, and issued a public apology to the Norwegian people for her past mistakes.
Royal duties and public controversy
Following her marriage, Mette-Marit worked to establish herself as a princess focused on empathy and social causes. She directed her official work toward combating AIDS, supporting mental health initiatives, and advocating for marginalized social groups. She also prioritized literature, which had provided her refuge during a difficult childhood.
Having earned her high school diploma at age 20 without further academic credentials, she launched the Literary Train initiative. The project involved traveling by train across Norway to visit local libraries and schools, host workshops, and meet with authors and readers. Despite her public efforts, her approval rating remained limited, with 27 percent of Norwegians viewing her as suitable to become queen.
She represented the Norwegian branch of the House of Glücksburg without major disruption for several years, though she faced sharp criticism for intervening to help a friendly couple access surrogacy services in India, an action that ran counter to Norwegian law.
Her public standing faced severe strain following legal troubles involving her eldest son and revelations regarding her past connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Son's criminal conviction and court case
Marius Borg Høiby was adopted by Crown Prince Haakon and raised with protocol protections, though he was never an official member of the royal family. He is the half-brother of Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. In 2024, his arrest created significant disruption at the royal palace.
Marius faced a broad indictment including charges of rape, physical abuse, domestic violence, and threats. Prosecutors characterized him during proceedings as a man who believed he could act without restriction due to his family connections.
In 2026, 29-year-old Marius was convicted of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison. One of the assaults occurred at the official residence of the crown princely couple. While the conviction did not threaten the continuation of the monarchy, it caused a decline in public support for the institution.
Leaked messages and the Epstein scandal
Mette-Marit's public image suffered further damage in 2019 when her past relationship with Jeffrey Epstein was made public. Documents released by the United States Department of Justice detailed frequent communication between the princess and the convicted financier from 2011 to 2014, referencing her name at least 1,000 times.
The released records showed that Mette-Marit described Epstein in messages as charming and expressed gratitude for flowers he sent while she was ill. In response to Epstein mentioning he was seeking a partner in Paris, she wrote that the French capital was suitable for adultery and remarked that Scandinavian women made the best wives.
Following the revelations, a palace spokesman stated that Epstein had attempted to exploit the princess's position. Mette-Marit issued a statement to public broadcaster NRK expressing regret over the relationship. She stated that she wished she had never met him, acknowledged that she failed to check his background properly, and said she had been manipulated and deceived.
Health challenges and future succession
The 53-year-old princess is currently recovering from a lung transplant performed in June 2026. She was originally diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018 and underwent the surgical procedure after her condition required intervention.
At the same time, Mette-Marit faces the prospect of becoming queen as the health of 89-year-old King Harald V declines. Crown Prince Haakon is closer than ever to assuming the throne, bringing renewed focus to Mette-Marit's role alongside him.
As the royal couple looks ahead, observers note that the princess will need to navigate her future position without relying solely on public apologies to maintain public confidence and support her husband on the throne.
