The trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s crown princess, commenced on Tuesday with allegations including rape, marking the start of a prolonged legal process that has tarnished the reputation of the royal family.
As the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, Høiby, 29, lacks any royal title or official responsibilities. He has been under public scrutiny since multiple arrests in 2024 on various charges.
Høiby appeared at the Oslo district court on Tuesday for a trial expected to run until March 19, facing a total of 38 charges. These accusations encompass rape, domestic abuse against one former partner, physical violence against another, and the transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. Additional charges include making death threats and traffic violations.
Prosecutors have highlighted that if convicted, Høiby could potentially receive a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. The trial, drawing international interest, was conducted in English by the judge, who emphasized the prohibition of recording or photography in the courtroom and mentioned that some witness testimonies would be confidential.
Høiby’s defense team has firmly denied the sexual abuse charges and most of the violence-related accusations. The recent arrest of Høiby over fresh allegations involving assault, knife threats, and breaching a restraining order led to a court decision on Monday to detain him for up to four weeks due to concerns about reoffending.
The indictment revolves around four alleged rape incidents between 2018 and November 2024, violence and threats against a former partner from summer 2022 to fall 2023, and two violent acts against a subsequent partner, including violations of a restraining order. The defense maintains its stance on refuting the sexual abuse charges and the majority of the violence-related claims.
Despite the ongoing trial, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have indicated their absence, with the royal household refraining from commenting during the legal proceedings. While the Norwegian royals, particularly King Harald, enjoy widespread popularity, the Høiby case has posed challenges to the family’s public image.
Coinciding with the trial, renewed attention has been directed towards Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, following the release of additional documents from the Epstein files. These files reportedly contained numerous references to the crown princess, who expressed regret in 2019 for her prior association with Epstein.
