Swedish Royal Court insists Princess Sofia was 'never dependent on Epstein' in fresh statement

“The Royal Court has responded to questions from Dagens Nyheter about whether the Princess in her 20s was introduced to Jeffrey Epstein.

“The Royal Court notes the significant media interest in this matter. At the same time, it is important that the reporting remains focused on what is relevant.

“No one can be expected to remember every person they have encountered throughout their life; however, Princess Sofia recalls meeting Epstein on a few occasions about 20 years ago. We wish to clarify that these meetings took place in social settings, such as at a restaurant and a movie premiere.

“Reports that the Princess received help from Epstein with acting lessons or with a visa to the United States are incorrect. The Princess has never been dependent on him in any way, nor has she had any contact with him for the past 20 years.”

The confirmation comes after Swedish media published leaked emails linking Princess Sofia to Epstein through businesswoman Barbro Ehnbom, a mentor figure in Sofia’s early days in New York.

Swedish outlet Dagens Nyheter first reported the materials following their release in December 2025.

According to multiple reports, one email from late 2005 introduced Sofia — then known as Sofia Hellqvist and working as an aspiring actress and model — to Epstein.

In that correspondence, Ms Ehnbom wrote to Epstein: “This is Sofia, an aspiring actress who just arrived in New York. She’s the girl I told you about before I left, who I thought you might like to meet. Maybe we can visit before you go on holiday?”

Epstein responded: “I'm in the Caribbean. Does she want to come for a couple of days? I'll send a ticket.” The Swedish Royal Court has confirmed that Princess Sofia did not accept the invitation.

The court said the meetings took place in social settings such as restaurants and film premieres, and emphasised that Sofia has had no contact with Epstein in 20 years.

Princess Sofia’s absence from the recent Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm heightened public attention on the revelations; the Palace said she stayed at home to care for Princess Ines, her youngest child, born earlier this year.

The emails and the Palace statement arrive amid ongoing scrutiny of historical links between Epstein and other prominent figures.

Epstein — who was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution and later charged with federal sex-trafficking offences — died while awaiting federal sex-trafficking charges in a New York jail in 2019.

One of the most prominent survivors of Epstein’s abuse network, Virginia Giuffre, died by suicide in April 2025 at the age of 41.

She was widely acknowledged for her advocacy on behalf of trafficking survivors.

Mrs Giuffre’s legal actions included a high-profile civil case against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the United States that settled in 2022.

He denied wrongdoing; the settlement did not include an admission of liability.

The Royal Court of Sweden’s latest statement underscores that Princess Sofia’s encounters with Epstein were brief, social and two decades ago, and that she had no dependency, further contact, or ongoing connection with him after that period.