Royals from across Europe have gathered in Oslo for the state funeral of King Harald V, who died on August 28 at the age of 89. Among the attendees is Norway's new Queen Mette-Marit, who faces a potentially awkward reunion with Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg.
The reunion comes after it was revealed earlier this year that Queen Mette-Marit had described the Grand Duke and Duchess's 2012 wedding as "deadly boring" in an email sent to Jeffrey Epstein. The email, dated October 21, 2012, was sent from an address identified as 'HKH Kronprinsessen' while Mette-Marit and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, were attending the two-day nuptials in Luxembourg.
In the email, Mette-Marit wrote: 'Boring wedding. Was like some kind of old movie. Where you know the characters are not hanging around for much long[er].'
Mette-Marit, 53, became Queen consort when her husband ascended the throne as King Haakon VIII following his father's death. She was unable to attend her father-in-law's swearing-in ceremony due to complications from recent lung transplant surgery but joined her husband in welcoming royal guests for a private dinner on the eve of the state funeral. The funeral service is scheduled to take place at Oslo Cathedral.
This gathering marks the first time Haakon and Mette-Marit will host European monarchs as Norway's King and Queen. Dignitaries and royals, including Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, and representatives from the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, and Greece, have arrived in the Norwegian capital.
The controversy surrounding the email to Epstein follows an earlier apology issued by Mette-Marit for her extensive correspondence with the financier, who died awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Mette-Marit stated that she had been misled by Epstein and that her contact with him had been initiated through a mutual acquaintance. She maintained that she never witnessed any illegal activity and has expressed regret for ever meeting him.
King Harald V, who had reigned for 35 years, was Europe's oldest reigning sovereign. His son, Haakon VIII, has pledged allegiance to Norway's constitution and assumed the throne. During the previous controversy, King Harald had defended Mette-Marit, stating that she had not acted illegally and deserved credit for ending her association with Epstein early.