Royal Scandal: Crown Princess's Son Faces Rape Trial in Oslo
The son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit is facing a high-profile trial in Oslo on serious charges including rape, violence, and drug offences, in a case that has significantly impacted the royal family's public image.
Trial Proceedings Begin Amidst Royal Controversy
Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, appeared in Oslo District Court on Tuesday as his trial commenced. The proceedings are expected to continue for several weeks, with parts held behind closed doors to protect sensitive information.
Despite being the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, Høiby holds no royal title or official duties within the Norwegian monarchy. His legal troubles have been mounting since 2024, when he was repeatedly arrested on various allegations of criminal behaviour.
Serious Charges and Recent Arrest
Høiby faces a total of 38 separate counts in the current trial, including multiple allegations of rape occurring between 2018 and November 2024. The charges also encompass abuse within a close relationship against one former partner, acts of violence against another subsequent partner, and the transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana.
Additional accusations include making death threats and various traffic violations. Prosecutors have indicated that if convicted on all charges, Høiby could potentially face up to ten years in prison.
In a dramatic development just days before the trial began, police arrested Høiby on Sunday over new allegations involving assault, threats with a knife, and violation of a restraining order. The Oslo district court subsequently granted a request to detain him for up to four weeks, citing concerns about the risk of reoffending.
Defence lawyer Petar Sekulic confirmed that the arrest followed an alleged "incident" involving another person, though he declined to provide specific details. Sekulic stated that Høiby contests his detention and that his legal team was considering an appeal once both parties could provide statements to police.
Royal Family Distances Itself
Crown Prince Haakon announced last week that neither he nor Crown Princess Mette-Marit plan to attend the trial proceedings. The royal house has stated it does not intend to comment during the legal process, maintaining a clear separation between family matters and official royal duties.
This distancing comes as King Harald, aged 88, and the Norwegian royal family generally maintain strong popularity throughout the country. However, the Høiby case has undoubtedly created challenges for the monarchy's carefully cultivated public image.
Defence Position and Legal Strategy
Høiby's defence team has issued a clear statement regarding their client's position, declaring that he "denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence." This sets the stage for a contentious legal battle as the trial progresses through its scheduled conclusion on March 19.
Timing Coincides with Epstein Document Release
The trial's commencement coincides with renewed scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit's past connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Norwegian media reported that a new batch of documents released from the Epstein files on Friday contained several hundred mentions of the crown princess.
Mette-Marit had previously addressed this issue in 2019, expressing regret over her contact with Epstein. In a recent statement, she acknowledged: "I must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein's background more thoroughly, and for not realizing sooner what kind of person he was."
The crown princess added with evident remorse: "I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing." This dual controversy surrounding both mother and son has created an unprecedented public relations challenge for Norway's royal establishment.
