Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit is set to address her past connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in a much-anticipated television interview scheduled to broadcast on Friday.

According to Reuters, the crown princess will state that she was "manipulated and deceived" by Epstein during their interactions. The interview comes at a sensitive time as her son faces legal proceedings.

The timing of the interview coincides with the conclusion of a rape trial involving Marius Borg Høiby, Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship. The crown princess's decision to speak publicly about her Epstein connections has drawn significant media attention in Norway.

Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, maintained relationships with numerous high-profile individuals worldwide. The extent and nature of these relationships have continued to generate scrutiny years after his death.

The Norwegian royal family has faced increased public attention in recent months due to various controversies. Crown Princess Mette-Marit's forthcoming interview represents a rare public statement on the matter from a member of the Norwegian monarchy.