The stepson of Norway's future king has suffered a significant legal defeat in his attempt to suppress a controversial book that alleges connections between him and Europe's most notorious drug gangs.
Court Rejects Royal Injunction Request
Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, saw his request for a temporary injunction denied by the Oslo District Court this week. The ruling means the controversial book Hvite striper, sorte får (White Stripes, Black Sheep) will continue to be sold without the edits Høiby demanded.
The court ordered Høiby to pay 530,500 Norwegian kroner (approximately £40,000) in legal costs, with 460,000 kroner going to publisher Aschehoug and 70,500 kroner to the Norwegian Publishers' Association. This substantial sum must be paid within two weeks and is separate from his own legal fees.
Controversial Claims and Royal Backlash
The book, published on October 20 by investigative journalists Øistein Monsen and Torgeir Pedersen Krokfjord, has caused a storm in Norway with its explosive claims. One of the most damaging allegations suggests Høiby sold drugs at Karl John's Gate in Oslo during 2023.
While Høiby's representatives have vehemently denied these claims, and Police Chief Ida Melbo Øystese stated that police hadn't observed such activity, the damage to his reputation appears considerable.
The title itself references Høiby's troubled past - the 'white stripes' symbolising his admitted cocaine use, while 'black sheep' reflects his position as the problem child of the royal family.
Mounting Legal Troubles and Royal Distance
This legal defeat compounds Høiby's existing serious legal challenges. He already faces charges of rape and sexual assault, with a trial scheduled to begin in January. The indictment includes 32 separate offences, with prosecutors alleging he assaulted women while they slept and filmed the attacks.
Public prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø described the case as "very serious," noting that Høiby could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted following the six-week trial.
The palace has moved to distance itself from the escalating situation. Guri Varpe, Head of Communications at the Palace, confirmed that neither the royal court nor the crown couple would be covering Høiby's legal costs.
This separation became more formal when Høiby became the first royal family member ever to be charged with a crime and was subsequently removed from public listings as part of the Scandinavian household.
Freedom of Expression Victory
For the publishers, the court's decision represents a significant victory for press freedom. Mads Nygaard of Aschehoug Publishing House told VG: "This is an important decision, not only for this case, but for freedom of expression in Norway."
Despite the setback, Høiby's legal team found some consolation in the court's acknowledgement that the claim about cocaine sales was "highly offensive and lacks a sufficient factual basis." The court also expressed doubts about the legality of images used on the book's cover.
The controversy has taken a measurable toll on the Norwegian royal family's popularity, with public backing falling from 81% in 2017 to 62% last September. Crown Princess Mette-Marit described the past year as "challenging" in a recent interview, while Crown Prince Haakon has expressed trust in the legal system to handle the matter appropriately.
As the book continues to circulate and January's criminal trial approaches, the Norwegian royal family faces one of its most significant modern crises, with the stepson once affectionately known as 'Little Marius' now at the centre of multiple legal battles and damaging allegations.
