The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess was apprehended just prior to the commencement of his trial on multiple charges, including rape, which has been a source of embarrassment for the royal family, law enforcement officials revealed on Monday.
Marius Borg Høiby was taken into custody on Sunday evening and is facing accusations of assault, wielding a knife to threaten, and breaching a restraining order, according to a police statement. Authorities have requested a four-week detention citing concerns of potential reoffending.
Scheduled to begin on Tuesday at the Oslo district court, the trial features a total of 38 charges against Høiby, encompassing rape, domestic abuse against a former partner, physical violence towards another individual, and the transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. Additional allegations include making death threats and traffic infractions.
Høiby has been under scrutiny since his repeated arrests in 2024 on various misconduct allegations. Despite this, he had remained free pending trial until his recent arrest.
Prosecutors have indicated that Høiby, aged 29, could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if found guilty during the trial, which is anticipated to run until mid-March.
Høiby is the son of Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and stepson to Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne. Although the royal family enjoys widespread popularity in Norway, the Høiby case has cast a shadow over their reputation.
In a separate development preceding the trial, the latest release of documents from the Epstein files on Friday placed Mette-Marit in an unfavorable spotlight. The documents revealed several hundred references to the crown princess, who had previously expressed regret in 2019 for her association with Epstein, as reported by Norwegian media.
The newly disclosed documents included email communications with Epstein, indicating that Mette-Marit stayed at one of Epstein’s properties in Palm Beach, Fla., for several days in early 2013, a fact confirmed by the royal house through a mutual acquaintance, as per broadcaster NRK. In a statement issued by the royal house, Mette-Marit acknowledged her lapse in judgment for not thoroughly investigating Epstein’s background and expressed deep remorse for any contact with him, deeming it embarrassing. She extended her heartfelt sympathy and support to Epstein’s victims.
The connections between Mette-Marit and Epstein, along with the ongoing Høiby trial, are not the only sources of negative publicity for Norway’s royal family. The business pursuits of Haakon’s sister, Princess Märtha Louise, have faced continual scrutiny. Concurrent with the media coverage of Høiby’s case in 2024, she entered into marriage with an American self-proclaimed shaman, Durek Verrett.
