Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway's Queen Mette-Marit, was attacked by an intruder at the royal family's estate on Friday evening, according to reports. The 29-year-old, who is under house arrest at Skaugum Palace following his rape conviction in June, was pushed by an unknown man who had entered his home shortly after midnight.
Høiby forced the intruder outside and called the police, with officers arriving a minute and a half later. The unnamed man was subsequently arrested, and police launched a criminal case on suspicion of assault and unlawful entry, NRK reported.
Incident at Skaugum Palace
According to Se og Hør, the attack took place at Høiby's residence, located just a few hundred metres from the main house of Queen Mette-Marit and King Haakon. Høiby was previously sentenced to four years in prison and is a convicted rapist, having been charged with two counts of rape, one count of domestic violence, and other crimes.
Defence attorney Alexander Greaker commented on the incident, saying: "It's a place where one should feel safe, and given Marius's current situation, it's easy to understand why he experienced it as very unpleasant and unsafe."
Royal Family's Response
Until the end of last year, the Norwegian Royal Family remained largely quiet on Høiby's case. However, in an interview with The Times last December, the Crown Princess spoke about the limitations she faces owing to her pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis, while rejecting claims that she had tipped her son off about his impending arrest.
"I think it's been quite a strain to be accused of such serious things, which of course I did not do," Mette-Marit said. "The thing that perhaps upsets me the most is being criticised for how we've handled it as parents, that we didn't take it seriously. I find that hard."
She said the family had sought "professional help" for her son. "So it feels a little unfair [to claim] that we didn't take the situation seriously, because I think we have," she said. "Being a parent is the most vulnerable thing you can do. And I think all parents ... will recognise that there is an incredible amount of self-blame involved."
Previous Controversy
Høiby also sparked criticism in September after being allowed to stand beside the late King Harald's coffin despite being a convicted rapist. In a post by HELLO!, footage showed Høiby standing by the coffin, prompting reactions such as "Marius should not be there," "I can't believe they let Marius be part of it," and "Marius should NOT be part of this."
The police investigation into the assault and unlawful entry continues, with the suspect having been arrested at the scene.
