Marius Borg Høiby, son of Princess Mette-Marit, is accused of 38 crimes including rape and domestic violence. The police are asking for precautionary custody
Norway is facing one of the most delicate judicial cases of recent years, with inevitable repercussions on the image of the monarchy. Marius Borg Hoiby29 years old, son of the princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the Crown Prince Haakonwas arrested on Sunday 1 February by the Oslo police and will have toto appear in district court to answer a staggering number of charges.
According to authorities, Høiby is charged with 38 countsrelating to alleged crimes committed starting from 2018. The contested framework includes four episodes of rape, domestic violence, attacks against ex-partners, threats with a knife, violation of a restraining order, drug-related crimes and serious traffic violations. If convicted, the sentence could reach up to 16 years in prison.
Pre-trial detention and risk of recurrence
The Oslo police requested Høiby to be held in custody for four weeks, citing the concrete risk of repeating the crimes. The restrictive measures already in force prohibit him from having any contact with the ex-girlfriends involved, some of whom have become civil parties in the proceedings. The accused admitted some responsibility for minor crimes, such as damage, but firmly rejects the more serious accusations, in particular those of sexual violence.
The trial, destined to last until at least March 19, promises to be highly exposed to the media, not only due to the seriousness of the charges but also due to the profile of the accused.
A case that affects the monarchy
Marius Borg Høiby is not officially part of the royal family nor does he carry out institutional roles. However, in the Norwegian public imagination, he has always been perceived as close to the crown. Born from a previous relationship of Princess Mette-Marit, he was raised by Prince Haakon as a son, accompanying the family on numerous public occasions over the years.
Precisely this proximity makes the matter particularly sensitive, in a country where the monarchy traditionally enjoys a high level of trust and consensus.
The shadow of the Epstein files
The Høiby case also comes at an already complex moment for the future queen’s image. In recent weeks, Mette-Marit’s name has appeared in the so-called “Epstein files” published by the US Department of Justice. The documents show that in 2013 the princess stayed for a few days in a property in Florida belonging to Jeffrey Epstein, a circumstance that raised questions and controversy, despite the absence of formal accusations.
The proceedings against her son now represent a further blow to Mette-Marit’s public reputation and, more generally, to the symbolic stability of the Norwegian monarchy, called to manage a crisis that intertwines justice, public opinion and institutional image.
