The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess has been taken into custody just before his trial commences, facing charges that include rape, in a case that has caused embarrassment to the royal family, according to police reports on Monday. Marius Borg Høiby was arrested on Sunday evening on allegations of assault, knife threats, and breaching a restraining order, as stated by the police. Authorities have requested a four-week detention due to concerns about the risk of further offenses.
Scheduled for Tuesday, Høiby is set to stand trial at the Oslo district court where the prosecution has listed 38 charges against him, ranging from rape and intimate partner violence to drug trafficking and making death threats. This legal battle, expected to last until mid-March, could potentially lead to a 10-year prison sentence for the 29-year-old Høiby if found guilty.
Høiby, the son of Mette-Marit from a prior relationship and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, has been under close scrutiny since his multiple arrests in 2024. Despite the past allegations, he had been free pending trial until his recent arrest. While the Norwegian royals enjoy widespread popularity, the Høiby case has undoubtedly tarnished their public image.
In a separate development, the latest release of documents from the Epstein files on Friday shed light on Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The documents revealed her connections to Jeffrey Epstein, with whom she exchanged emails and even stayed at one of his properties in Florida. Mette-Marit expressed regret for not thoroughly vetting Epstein’s background and acknowledged her poor judgment in associating with him, describing the situation as embarrassing.
Apart from Mette-Marit’s ties to Epstein and Høiby’s legal woes, Norway’s royal family has faced additional negative press, particularly surrounding Princess Märtha Louise’s controversial marriage to American self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verrett in 2024. These incidents have collectively placed the royals under heightened scrutiny and criticism.