Royal bride-to-be admits wild past

Hoiby is to marry Prince Haakon at the weekend

OSLO, Norway -- The bride-to-be of Norway’s crown prince has tearfully confessed to a wild past three days before her wedding.

The wedding between Crown Prince Haakon and Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby is the first royal marriage to take place in Oslo since 1968 and is expected to be attended by royals from across Europe.

Hoiby, a single mother with a four-year-old son, has previously refused to answer questions about her past even though Haakon had said in an interview last year that she had often attended parties where drugs were used.

During a joint press conference at the royal palace on Wednesday she told reporters: “We violated the limits.

QUICKVOTE Will Mette-Marit Tjessem Hoiby's confession harm Norway's monarchy? Yes No View Results

“That was a costly experience for me, that I took a long time to get over.

“My youth rebellion was much stronger than many others. That resulted in me living quite a wild life.

“It was important for me to live in defiance of what was accepted.”

She added: “I know this was very difficult for very many people, and I am sorry for that. But unfortunately I can’t make those choices again.”

The 28-year-old blonde fiancée condemned drugs, but fell short of saying whether she had taken drugs herself, and said she hoped she could “avoid talking more about my past.”

The former university student and waitress met the 28-year-old crown prince 15 months ago and caused a stir within Norway when the couple moved in with each other before marrying.

Some Norwegians praise Hoiby as a modern Cinderella but others fear that the monarchy cannot survive as a symbol. The royal family’s popularity has been sliding for some time.

Hoiby will become Crown Princess Mette-Marit after the three-day wedding celebration, but her son, Marius, could never assume the throne under Norway’s constitution.

Attending the wedding will be Britain’s Prince Charles and his brother Prince Edward.