The impending criminal trial of a member of Norway's royal family is having a profound societal impact, with the country's largest women's health organisation reporting a surge in women coming forward to report abuse and sexual assault.
A Royal Scandal Reaches the Courts
Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the future King Haakon, is scheduled to stand trial in February. He faces a total of 32 criminal charges, which include four separate counts of rape, the domestic abuse of a former partner, and the illegal filming of several women without their knowledge or consent.
His legal representative, lawyer Petar Sekulic, has stated that Høiby "denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence." Sekulic added that his client would provide the court with a detailed account of his version of events. If found guilty of the most serious offences, Høiby could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
Breaking Taboos: A Surge in Women Seeking Help
In a significant and poignant development, staff at Sanitetskvinnene, Norway's foremost women's public health organisation, have observed a marked increase in women contacting them for support and advice regarding experiences of domestic violence and sexual assault. They anticipate this number will climb further once the high-profile trial begins.
May Britt Buhaug, the secretary general of Sanitetskvinnene, directly linked this rise to the media coverage of cases like Høiby's. "Media coverage of cases such as Høiby's lower the threshold to ask for help. That women ask for help more easily is a positive effect. Openness breaks taboos," Buhaug explained.
She emphasised the tragic yet powerful effect of the case, noting it "can contribute to break the silence around intimate partner violence and rape." This is crucial in a country where, according to the Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies (NKVTS), one in ten women has experienced serious violence from an intimate partner.
Republicans Energised and Further Allegations Surface
The scandal has reverberated beyond the courts and support services, energising Norway's republican movement. Craig Aaen-Stockdale, leader of the group Norge som republikk (Norway as a republic), revealed that membership has more than tripled in the past two years, a surge he attributes largely to the accusations against Høiby.
"The ongoing omniscandal has really tarnished the reputation of the younger royals, including the future heir," Aaen-Stockdale said. He painted a stark picture of a potential future where the head of state has a chronically ill wife—Crown Princess Mette-Marit recently disclosed she will need a lung transplant—and a son in prison.
Further damaging claims have emerged in a new book, White Lines, Black Sheep, which Høiby unsuccessfully attempted to block. The book alleges he personally sold drugs on the streets of Oslo, accusations he has denied. Co-author Torgeir Pedersen Krokfjord suggested the royal family remains broadly popular but acknowledged the strain, stating, "One can only imagine how it must have been for them to deal with all this through the years."
The royal palace and Høiby's lawyer were contacted for comment on the developments.
