A year and a half after his initial arrest, Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, goes on trial in Oslo district court, facing 38 charges including multiple counts of rape, assault, and threats. The seven-week trial, beginning Tuesday, is one of Norway’s largest criminal cases in recent years.
Høiby, 29, remains in custody following a recent arrest over assault, making threats with a knife, and violating a restraining order. His defence team plans to appeal the remand decision.
The charges include rape while the victim was unconscious, sexual assault on incapacitated women, sexually offensive conduct without consent, bodily harm, repeated abuse of partners, violating restraining orders, marijuana possession, and traffic offences. He denies most of the sexual and violent offences but has admitted to lesser infractions. If convicted, he could face at least 10 years in prison.
The trial has strict court restrictions: no images of Høiby inside or outside court are allowed, and victims’ identities are protected. The royal family will not attend proceedings, with King Harald V and Queen Sonja scheduled to travel to the Winter Olympics.
The trial comes amid renewed scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit following revelations that she was cited in over 900 emails exchanged with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mette-Marit has admitted “poor judgment,” but the fallout is significant: the Sex and Society foundation has withdrawn her as patron for its annual Shameless Prize.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has called on the princess to explain the extent of her communications. Royal experts warn that the revelations could have long-term consequences for her reputation. Historian Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen noted that the royal court and advisers should have prevented the exchanges, citing potential international implications.
Despite the scandal, the Norwegian monarchy remains popular, with recent polls showing 73% public approval. Still, republican voices, including Green Party leader Arild Hermstad, argue the affair highlights structural weaknesses in the monarchy and calls for transparency.
