Mette-Marit was 25 years old and a single mother when she met Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon in 1999. They began their relationship secretly, but the news eventually came out. Mette-Marit pushed back against media portrayals of her as a Cinderella figure. Instead, she emphasized that their relationship was like any normal one. However, the media primarily focused on her controversial past in Norway’s house music scene and questioned if she was fit for royal life. Despite the negative attention, Haakon and his father, King Harald, supported her.
Mette-Marit, born Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby, had a challenging upbringing in Kristiansand, with a journalist father and a bank clerk mother who divorced when she was young. Up until her thirties, she described her younger years as “wild,” as she often challenged social norms. After marrying Haakon, she struggled at first but gradually adapted to being part of the royal family. Historians noted her warmth and ability to connect with people as her strengths.
Between 2000 and 2002, she studied ethics at the University of Oslo and later took courses in international development. Mette-Marit also promoted Norwegian literature and focused on children’s reading. As a royal, she took on many charitable roles and raised her children: Magnus, with her former partner, and Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus, with Haakon. She became active internationally on health issues, particularly women’s empowerment and reproductive health, even serving as a goodwill ambassador for the U.N.’s HIV/AIDS program.
In January 2026, Mette-Marit faced scrutiny again when private emails to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released. She expressed regret for her past association with him and claimed to have been manipulated. Public support for the monarchy decreased following the revelations, with many questioning her future as queen. In a tearful interview, she stated her regret about meeting Epstein.
At the same time, her son Marius was undergoing a trial for serious charges, including rape, though he denied the allegations. Mette-Marit remained silent in the media about his situation. Additionally, she faced health challenges due to chronic pulmonary fibrosis, which made her daily life difficult. Shortly after her son’s conviction, Mette-Marit had a successful lung transplant and celebrated her 25th wedding anniversary with Haakon, continuing to manage her royal duties.
With information from Reuters
