Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been convicted of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison. The 29-year-old, who became part of the royal household when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, has denied the most serious allegations against him, including rape, and maintains his right to appeal the verdict.
Court Ruling and Sentencing
A three-judge panel at Oslo District Court, in courtroom 250, acquitted Høiby of two additional rape charges but found him guilty of numerous other offenses. The prosecution had sought a sentence of seven years and seven months, while his legal team argued for a reduced term of 18 months. Høiby was not present in court for the judgment, participating remotely via video link, according to the BBC.
Trial Details
The sensational trial, which captivated Norway for weeks, heard allegations that Høiby had raped four women between 2018 and 2024 while they were asleep or unable to consent. One alleged assault occurred in the cellar of the crown prince's family residence. The six-week hearing concluded in March after testimony from multiple complainants and examination of evidence, including texts, photographs, and footage from Høiby's mobile phone.
Høiby, whose mother entered the royal family when he was four, was never formally a royal family member, though he was raised alongside his royal siblings. During the proceedings, Norway's future monarch and his consort did not attend the court. Crown Princess Mette-Marit is seriously ill and has been placed on a lung transplant waiting list.
