The commencement of a significant trial at Oslo district court on Tuesday marks a challenging period for Norway’s royal family. Marius Borg Høiby, the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon and son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is at the center of legal proceedings. His mother and stepfather will not be present to offer support during the proceedings, which are expected to extend for seven weeks. Court-imposed restrictions will prevent images of the 29-year-old from being published during this time, though international media presence is substantial.
Høiby faces 38 charges, encompassing allegations of rape against four women, assault and threats directed at a former girlfriend, and damage to her property. Additional charges include drug-related offenses and driving violations. Conviction on these charges could result in a prison sentence exceeding ten years.
The Royal Palace has emphasized that Marius Borg Høiby is not an official member of the royal family and that he does not hold a public role. Nevertheless, he is considered a close relative, viewed by Crown Prince Haakon as a son and known to King Harald V, 88, for much of his life as a grandson.
“This is a critical juncture, as the royal family is expected to serve as role models,” commented Ulf Andre Andersen, whose publication, Se og Hør, initially reported on the case in early August 2024 following a police response to a domestic incident at a woman’s residence in Oslo. Høiby has admitted to lesser offenses, including physical abuse and property destruction, which he acknowledged after his arrest. The indictment details allegations of him tearing down a chandelier, throwing a knife, and shattering a mirror, while using derogatory language towards the woman.
Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The four rape charges span from 2018, occurring at the official royal residence Skaugum estate, to November 2024, subsequent to his initial arrest. One accusation from 2023 involves sexual intercourse while the woman was asleep. The remaining three charges pertain to sexual assault against women who were incapacitated, acts defined as rape under Norwegian law.
Niklas Kokkinn-Thoresen, editor-in-chief of Se og Hør and a colleague of Andersen who covered the arrest, characterized the situation as the most significant scandal to affect the Norwegian royals to date. Høiby, a figure known to the Norwegian public since his mother’s marriage into the royal family, has previously spoken about his struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues since childhood.
Høiby’s legal counsel has issued a statement indicating that he takes the accusations seriously but denies wrongdoing in most of the cases, particularly concerning sexual abuse and violence. The trial is expected to involve testimony from multiple women, not solely those alleging rape. Former girlfriend and social media influencer Nora Haukland, whose request for anonymity was denied by the courts, is among the accusers. Her public statements following Høiby’s arrest, detailing allegations of physical assault, form part of the indictment.
His defense team denies these serious charges, as well as a charge of possessing 3.5 kilograms of marijuana, added to the indictment only recently. However, the rape and sexual assault allegations are anticipated to be a primary focus of the trial, with testimony from the involved women central to the proceedings.
“Some of the victims in this case are well-known influencers, but the majority are ordinary individuals who will now have their most private experiences examined by hundreds of journalists over several weeks,” stated journalist Torgeir Krokfjord, who co-authored a book on Høiby’s alleged ties to the drug trade. He emphasized the emotional toll such scrutiny would likely have.
Family Response and Royal Context
Crown Prince Haakon addressed reporters prior to the trial, expressing solidarity with the women involved. “We love him, of course; he is an important part of our family,” he stated, subsequently directing his remarks to the accusers: “We care about them. We know many of you are going through a difficult time right now.”
King Harald V and Queen Sonja, both 88, will not attend the trial. They plan to travel to Italy for the commencement of the Winter Olympics, where they will visit Norwegian athletes. Crown Princess Mette-Marit is currently experiencing significant health challenges due to pulmonary fibrosis, with plans for a lung transplant underway. Her condition is potentially life-threatening, and her health issues are understood to be a primary concern for the royal family.
During a Christmas television documentary, Crown Princess Mette-Marit discussed her son’s situation, expressing her distress over criticism regarding their parenting. She defended their efforts, stating they sought professional help and did their best, finding the harsh criticism unfair.
Norway’s royal house is recognized for its accessibility, lacking the fortified compounds common in other monarchies. The Norwegian public’s perception of royalty has historically been grounded, and recent scandals have led to increased public scrutiny.
Tove Taalesen, a royal correspondent for Nettavisen, suggests that Crown Prince Haakon’s decision to present a young Marius Borg Høiby to the public from the palace balcony shortly after his marriage to Mette-Marit in 2001 may have contributed to the current situation. She noted that while Marius was included in family life, lacking a formal title or defined role created an unusual position within the family structure.
The royal household has also navigated the fallout from a separate royal event: the marriage of Crown Prince Haakon’s elder sister, Princess Märtha Louise, to American shaman Durek Verrett, which occurred shortly after Marius Borg Høiby’s August 2024 arrest. Princess Märtha Louise relinquished her royal title to avoid its commercial misuse and subsequently attracted palace criticism for participating in a Netflix documentary about their wedding.
Further revelations have emerged regarding Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past associations. Among documents released in relation to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, several hundred mentioned the Crown Princess. These documents indicate her stay at Epstein’s Palm Beach residence in January 2013, during his absence, and an email exchange from October 2012 where Epstein discussed “wife hunting.” Correspondence from the Crown Princess’s account includes phrases such as “you tickle my brain” and questions about his activities beyond meeting her. The Royal Palace has stated that Princess Mette-Marit has been open about her meetings with Epstein between 2011 and 2013, issuing a statement expressing regret for her poor judgment and solidarity with his victims.
Despite these challenges, the monarchy in Norway remains broadly respected, largely due to the popularity of King Harald V. Recent setbacks have not, thus far, appeared to cause lasting damage to the institution’s standing. A late-2024 poll indicated that 73% of the public supports the monarchy, suggesting a public capacity to differentiate the current trial from their overall view of the royal family. However, the royals acknowledge the need for continued vigilance.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Marius Borg Høiby’s sister and next in line to the throne, recently undertook a well-publicized visit to the Finnmark region. While the palace described the trip as long-planned and unconnected to the trial, some observers view it as a strategic move given her future position.
Coinciding with the trial’s start, Norway’s parliament, the Storting, is scheduled to hold its quadrennial vote on the future of the monarchy. This vote is not expected to result in any change to the current system.