The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty on two counts of rape. Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne in the Norwegian royal family.
He was facing 38 charges, including the rape of four women, assaulting and threatening a girlfriend and damaging her flat, drug charges and other driving offences. Judges in the Oslo District Court cleared him of two other counts of rape, but he was found guilty of many other accusations.
Høiby wasn’t in court for the verdict, but appeared through video link. His lawyers are expected to appeal the verdict, having called for a term of just 18 months for the crime.
Background on Marius Borg Høiby
Born on January 13, 1997, to mother Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, and father Morten Borg, Høiby was not born into royalty. However, when his mother married Prince Haakon in 2001, he was thrust into the spotlight, being considered by many as a royal, despite having no official titles.
He has no public role in royalty, but has been scrutinised by the media for years, having been associated with gang members in 2023. After allegations of assault emerged, it was revealed he had a previous arrest for using cocaine at a music festival in 2017.
Royal Family's Response
The Norwegian royal family has repeatedly said that Høiby is not a public figure, but his proximity to the monarchy has put his trial on the international stage. He has no royal title or official duties and is outside the line of royal succession.
His stepfather, Prince Haakon, said in a statement last week: ‘Marius Borg Høiby is not part of the royal household. In that respect, he is independent. But of course we love him. He is an important part of our family. And he is a citizen of Norway. With that, he has the same responsibilities as everyone else, but also the same rights.’
