Sweden's Princess Sofia encountered Jeffrey Epstein "on a few occasions" two decades ago, the Swedish Royal Court has confirmed, following the emergence of leaked correspondence.
The confirmation came after Swedish media published emails on Tuesday revealing a connection between the princess and the convicted sex offender through businesswoman Barbro Ehnbom.
Ms Ehnbom, described as a mentor to Sofia who later attended her 2015 wedding to Prince Carl Philip, reportedly facilitated introductions between the pair around 2005.
The 41-year-old princess, then known as Sofia Hellqvist, was an aspiring actress and model who had recently arrived in New York when the meetings took place.
Royal's past meetings with Epstein revealed in leaked emails as Palace confirms no further contact
|GETTY
These encounters occurred three years before Epstein's 2008 conviction in Florida for procuring a child for prostitution.
In a December 2005 email published by the nonprofit site ddosecrets.com, 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?" The message included a photograph of the then 21-year-old model.
Epstein's response was direct: "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 stated that Princess Sofia refused this invitation to the billionaire's private island, Little St James in the US Virgin Islands. The island has since become notorious as the location where numerous survivors, including the late Virginia Giuffre, alleged they were trafficked and sexually abused.
Sweden's King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel attend the Nobel Prize ceremony without Sofia
|REUTERS
The court issued the following statement to the Swedish newspaper, Dagens Nyheter: “Princess Sofia has been introduced to the person in question on a few occasions around 2005.”
This was before Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution, including with a minor, in 2008, and later faced federal sex trafficking charges in 2019. The Palace also denied that the princess ever applied for or attended any acting training, and that she did not accept the invitation to join Epstein in the Caribbean.
Further correspondence from April 2006 revealed continued interest from Epstein's camp. An email from the financier's assistant to Ms Ehnbom enquired about someone named Camilla, asking whether she had been informed about a standing offer for flights to New York.
Ms Ehnbom clarified in her reply: "I think he means Sofia, the little beautiful dark-haired girl who had her friend Camilla with her."
According to the leaked emails, Epstein extended offers of acting school placements to both women, though visa complications reportedly prevented either from taking up the opportunity.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Jeffrey Epstein photographed at a party in 2000 | GETTYThe Swedish Royal Court clarified: "The princess has not had any contact with the person in question for 20 years."
GB News has contacted the Swedish Royal Court for an independent comment.
Sofia's friend Camilla, who was also introduced to Epstein, expressed relief when speaking to the Swedish newspaper about the revelations.
"Thank God, you know when the truth has come out. I was 22 years old. It's really unpleasant to think what could have happened," she said, adding: "He probably mostly wanted to throw out an offer, to show that he could and had power and money."
Princess Sofia was notably absent from Wednesday's Nobel Prize ceremony in Stockholm, where other members of the Swedish Royal Family gathered at the Concert Hall. The Palace confirmed she remained at home caring for Princess Ines, her fourth child, born in February.
Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia at their wedding ceremony in Stockholm, 2015
|GETTY
Before her marriage to Prince Carl Philip, who is third in line to the throne, Sofia Hellqvist gained public attention through modelling work and an appearance on the 2005 reality programme Paradise Hotel.
The revelations make Princess Sofia the latest royal figure to be linked to Epstein, who died in a New York prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
In October, King Charles removed his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's remaining royal titles and honours following renewed scrutiny of his connections to the disgraced financier.
Andrew withdrew from public duties in 2019 after a controversial BBC interview about his relationship with Epstein. Queen Elizabeth subsequently stripped him of military titles and patronages in early 2022 when a judge refused to dismiss Virginia Giuffre's sexual assault lawsuit against him.
Andrew reached an out-of-court settlement with Mrs Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, for an undisclosed amount without admitting liability. The former prince has consistently denied any wrongdoing.