The trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, commenced on Tuesday, facing charges that include rape, marking the beginning of a weeks-long legal process that has overshadowed the royal family’s reputation. Høiby, 29, is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, though he does not hold any royal title or official responsibilities.
Having been under scrutiny since his repeated arrests in 2024 on various alleged wrongdoings, Høiby appeared at the Oslo district court on Tuesday morning to begin the trial, which is set to continue until March 19. The charges against him amount to 38, encompassing accusations of rape, abuse in a close relationship with one former partner, instances of violence towards another individual, and the transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. Additional charges include making death threats and various traffic violations.
Prosecutors have noted that if convicted, Høiby could potentially face up to 10 years in prison, with seven alleged victims expected to provide testimony during the proceedings. The trial has garnered international attention evidenced by the judge addressing the court in English, emphasizing the prohibition on recording or photographing inside the courtroom and indicating that certain witness testimonies would be held privately.
Høiby’s defense team has unequivocally denied all allegations of sexual abuse and the majority of violence-related charges. Notably, Høiby was placed in detention by the Oslo court after being arrested on new charges of assault, threats involving a knife, and breaching a restraining order. His legal counsel expressed intentions to contest the detention and consider an appeal pending further statements from Høiby and the other party involved.
The charges against Høiby revolve around four alleged rape incidents spanning from 2018 to November 2024, along with accusations of violence and threats against a former partner between the summer of 2022 and fall of 2023, as well as two reported acts of violence towards a subsequent partner, coupled with violations of a restraining order.
While Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have stated they will not attend the trial and the royal house intends to remain silent during the legal proceedings, the situation has undoubtedly tarnished the royal family’s public perception. This trial coincides with renewed scrutiny on Mette-Marit due to her past interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, following the recent disclosure of new documents from the Epstein files. The documents reportedly contain numerous mentions of the crown princess, who previously expressed regret over her association with Epstein in 2019.
