Princess Sofia of Sweden attended her father-in-law, King Carl Gustaf XVI's, 80th birthday celebrations while facing increased scrutiny over her past connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein Files and Public Acknowledgement

The princess, formerly Sofia Hellqvist, a model and reality TV personality, appeared to attempt to minimize media attention at the event by wearing a wide-brimmed blue hat that obscured much of her face. This appearance followed her recent public acknowledgement of meeting Epstein on multiple occasions before her marriage into the Swedish royal family.

Meeting Confirmed and Recanted Statements

Princess Sofia expressed gratitude for having had no contact with him since those initial encounters and voiced support for justice for his victims. Her name surfaced in released Epstein files, specifically on a guest list for a private screening and dinner of the film Les Misérables in New York in 2012, where Epstein reportedly exclaimed “Amazing!!!” upon seeing her listed.

Princess Sofia confirmed the meeting, stating it occurred in a social setting with many others and that she was thankful it was the extent of their interaction. Earlier statements from her spokesperson had denied her participation in the screening, claiming she was in Sweden at the time, but she has now clarified her recollection.

Invitations and Early Connections

The Swedish royal family had previously disclosed earlier meetings between the princess and Epstein dating back to 2005. Leaked emails also reveal Epstein extended invitations for the princess to visit his private Caribbean island and offered her and a friend places at acting school.

Early Introduction and Epstein's Interest

Princess Sofia was introduced to Epstein through a Swedish businesswoman who served as her mentor and later attended her wedding. Before her marriage to Prince Carl Philip in 2015, Princess Sofia had a public profile as a model, yoga instructor, and charity founder.

The emails detail Epstein’s interest in the then 21-year-old model, with the businesswoman sending a photograph to Epstein and an offer from Epstein to send a ticket for a visit to his Caribbean island. While the family maintains that Princess Sofia did not accept the invitation to Little St James, the revelations have brought renewed attention to her past associations and the broader Epstein scandal.

Royal Celebrations

The celebrations for King Carl Gustaf XVI, the first Swedish monarch to reach 50 years on the throne, were also attended by the couple’s four children, Princes Alexander, Gabriel, and Julian, and Princess Ines.