Son of Norway’s Crown Princess to Stand Trial Over 38 Charges in Historic Royal Scandal
Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, will appear before the Oslo District Court on Tuesday to face 38 criminal counts, including four allegations of rape, physical and psychological abuse of former partners, and drug-related offences.
The charges, some dating as far back as 2018, represent the most serious crisis to confront the Norwegian royal family since the country became a fully independent constitutional monarchy in 1905. Prosecutors say Høiby could face up to 16 years in prison if convicted on the gravest counts.
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Høiby, who holds no royal title, no official duties, and is financially supported by Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has so far admitted only to lesser offences. His legal team has stated that he will present his full account during the proceedings. The trial is scheduled to run until March 19 and is expected to draw widespread public and media attention.
Among the most severe accusations are four counts of rape, allegedly committed while the complainants were asleep or heavily intoxicated, with some incidents reportedly filmed by the accused. These are said to have occurred in 2018, 2023, and twice in 2024—one after police had already begun investigating him. Additional charges include the abuse of several former girlfriends and, announced only last week, six new counts that include transporting 3.5 kilogrammes of marijuana in 2020, an offence he has confessed to committing without financial motive.
The case began with Høiby’s arrest on 4 August 2024 following a report of assault on a then-partner. In the days that followed, he acknowledged acting “under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument” and spoke publicly of long-standing struggles with substance abuse and mental health challenges.
Norway’s royal family has enjoyed broad public affection for much of its modern history. The House of Glücksburg assumed the throne in 1905 when Prince Carl of Denmark was elected King Haakon VII after the peaceful dissolution of the union with Sweden. Through two world wars, including the monarchy’s role as a symbol of national resistance during the Nazi occupation, and into the postwar era, the institution has generally avoided serious scandal involving criminal conduct.
Previous controversies have centred largely on personal choices: King Harald V’s marriage in 1968 to Sonja Haraldsen, then a commoner, faced initial resistance; Crown Prince Haakon’s 2001 wedding to Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, a single mother whose earlier social circle included individuals with criminal records, also sparked debate. More recently, Princess Märtha Louise, Haakon’s elder sister, drew attention in 2024 when she married American self-described shaman Durek Verrett.
Yet historians note that no previous episode has approached the gravity of criminal allegations on this scale. Trond Norén Isaksen, a respected authority on the Norwegian monarchy, has described the case as “without a doubt the biggest scandal” in the institution’s 120-year independent history. “There have been controversies surrounding the choice of spouses, about renovations of the palace and these kinds of things, but never any real scandals involving criminal offences, let alone so many,” he told international media.
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Crown Prince Haakon, speaking to reporters earlier this week, said the family was “thinking a lot about all the parties concerned in this case” and expressed confidence that the court would proceed “in the most orderly, correct and fair manner possible.” He confirmed that neither he nor Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who continues to manage a chronic lung condition, plans to attend the hearings.
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø has emphasised the principle of equality before the law. “This means that Høiby should neither be treated more leniently nor more severely because of his family” ties, he stated, noting that the most serious individual offences carry maximum sentences of ten years, potentially extendable under multiple convictions.
Public support for the monarchy, while still solid, has shown signs of erosion. A recent survey by public broadcaster NRK found 70 per cent of respondents in favour of retaining the institution, down from 81 per cent in 2017. Observers attribute remaining goodwill largely to the respect accorded to the ageing King Harald V and Queen Sonja, both 88, who are widely viewed as steady national figures amid global uncertainty.
The Oslo District Court is expected to deliver its verdict several weeks after proceedings conclude.