The son of Norway’s crown princess, Marius Borg Høiby, pleads not guilty to rape charges as his trial opens in Oslo
The son of Norway’s crown princess, Marius Borg Høiby, has pleaded not guilty to rape charges as he went on trial in Oslo on Tuesday. The 29-year-old is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. Despite having no royal title or official duties, Høiby is facing a total of 38 charges, including four counts of rape, abuse in a close relationship, acts of violence, transporting marijuana, making death threats, and traffic violations.
During the trial, Høiby stood for 24 minutes while the prosecutor read out the charges against him. He pleaded not guilty to the most serious charges but admitted to several driving offenses, an aggravated drugs offense, breaking a restraining order, and “partly” to threats and aggravated assault. The trial is expected to last until March 19, with seven alleged victims set to testify.
Reflecting international interest in the case, the judge addressed the court in English and warned against recording or taking photographs in the courtroom. The investigation into Høiby began in 2024 after police were called to an apartment in Oslo following reports of a violent incident. The case expanded as more women came forward with allegations against him, leading to the filing of a detailed indictment last year.
In addition to the charges related to rape, violence, and drug offenses, Høiby was recently arrested over new allegations of assault, threats with a knife, and violation of a restraining order. The court granted a request to keep him in detention for up to four weeks due to the risk of reoffending. His defense lawyer indicated that they were considering an appeal against the decision.
The royal family, including Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has decided not to attend the trial and will refrain from commenting on the proceedings. The case has been a challenge for the royal family’s image, especially as it coincides with renewed scrutiny over Mette-Marit’s past contacts with Jeffrey Epstein. The release of new documents from the Epstein files revealed that she had stayed at an Epstein-owned property in Palm Beach in 2013, arranged through a mutual friend. Mette-Marit expressed regret over her association with Epstein and acknowledged her poor judgment in the matter.
Overall, the trial of Marius Borg Høiby has attracted significant attention both domestically and internationally, highlighting the challenges faced by the Norwegian royal family in maintaining their public image amidst legal and personal controversies.
