The trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s crown princess, began on Tuesday with charges including rape, marking the start of a series of court proceedings that have brought negative attention to the royal family.
Marius Borg Høiby, aged 29, is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne. Høiby, who does not hold any royal title or official responsibilities, has been under public scrutiny since facing multiple arrests in 2024 on various alleged offenses.
Taking his place at the Oslo district court on Tuesday morning, Høiby is set to undergo trial until March 19, facing a total of 38 charges. These accusations include rape, domestic abuse against a former partner, violent actions against another individual, and the transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. Additional charges involve making threats of harm, traffic violations, and other offenses.
Prosecutors have indicated that if convicted, Høiby could potentially receive up to 10 years of imprisonment. Seven alleged victims are scheduled to provide testimony during the trial, drawing significant international interest. The judge, recognizing this attention, addressed the court in English, highlighting the prohibition on recording or photographing inside the courtroom and noting that some witness testimonies would be conducted privately.
In response to the charges, Høiby’s defense team has asserted his denial of all allegations related to sexual abuse and a majority of the violence-related charges. Recently, Høiby was taken into custody following new allegations of assault, knife threats, and violation of a restraining order. The Oslo court granted a request to detain him for up to four weeks due to concerns of potential reoffending.
The indictment focuses on four alleged rape incidents between 2018 and November 2024, along with accusations of violence and threats against a former partner spanning from the summer of 2022 to the fall of 2023. Additionally, two instances of violence against a subsequent partner and breaches of a restraining order are included in the charges.
Despite the ongoing trial, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have decided not to attend the proceedings or provide comments, aiming to maintain a distance from the legal process. While the Norwegian royal family, led by King Harald, enjoys widespread popularity in Norway, the Høiby case has undoubtedly tarnished their public image.
The timing of Høiby’s trial coincides with increased scrutiny on Crown Princess Mette-Marit due to her previous connections with Jeffrey Epstein, as highlighted by the recent release of additional documents from the Epstein files. These documents, containing numerous references to the crown princess, have reignited discussions about her past interactions with Epstein, which she expressed regret for in 2019.