Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway has marked her silver wedding anniversary with Crown Prince Haakon by sharing family photos, including a childhood image of her son Marius Borg Høiby, who was recently convicted of rape.
The royal couple married at Oslo Cathedral on 25 August 2001, and are now celebrating 25 years of marriage. To commemorate the occasion, they looked back at their honeymoon in Long Island, United States, sharing never-before-seen photographs from the trip. One image shows a four-year-old Høiby sitting on Crown Prince Haakon’s shoulders while playing in the water.
Anniversary post and family photos
The series of photos, shared on the Norwegian Royal Family’s Instagram, show the newlyweds on the beach and carry the caption “Grateful” with a red heart emoji. Høiby, who is from Mette-Marit’s previous relationship and holds no royal titles, appears in one of the photographs.
The post comes days after King Harald of Norway was hospitalised following a health scare, with the palace confirming his “health has deteriorated”.
Høiby's conviction
In June, the 29-year-old Høiby was found guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison, after pleading not guilty to a series of serious accusations. The trial, which gripped Norway for several weeks, heard that Høiby had raped four women between 2018 and 2024 while they were sleeping or incapacitated. One alleged rape took place in the basement of the crown prince’s family home, the court heard.
The Norwegian royal family were not present for the trial. In a statement posted on the Norwegian Royal Family website before proceedings began, they said: “We are thinking a lot about all the parties involved in this matter. This is something that affects them, their families, those who love them. We care about them. We know that many of you are going through a difficult time right now.”
The statement continued: “At the same time, it is good to know that we live in a state governed by the rule of law. I am sure and have confidence that those responsible for the trial will work to ensure that it is conducted in as orderly, proper and fair a manner as possible.”
King Harald's health
King Harald, 89, Europe’s oldest reigning monarch, was admitted to the National Hospital in Oslo with a rare condition called haemolytic anaemia, in which the immune system attacks red blood cells. He was placed on sick leave from royal duties, with Crown Prince Haakon acting as regent.
An urgent statement issued on Sunday read: “His Majesty the King's health deteriorated over the weekend. The King is receiving antibiotics for a bacterial infection in his blood, and has responded to this treatment.” The statement added: “His condition is stable. His Majesty will remain at Oslo University Hospital (Rikshospitalet) and is on sick leave until further notice.” Many members of the Norwegian royal family have been seen visiting the hospital.
