In what historians are calling the most significant crisis to engulf Norway’s royal family since its founding in 1905, Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, stood trial this week on a sweeping 38-count indictment that includes multiple rape charges and allegations of sustained abuse against former romantic partners.
The proceedings, which opened in Oslo district court and are scheduled to continue through March 19, have thrust the Norwegian monarchy into uncharted territory, with Høiby—who is not in the line of succession but has grown up within palace walls—facing the possibility of up to 16 years imprisonment if convicted on all charges.
The charges against Høiby span six years, dating back to 2018, with prosecutors alleging a disturbing pattern of behavior that includes four separate rape allegations and accusations of physical and psychological abuse of multiple former girlfriends. According to court documents, the most serious allegations involve sexual assaults on women who were either asleep or incapacitated by alcohol, with prosecutors claiming that in at least some instances, Høiby recorded the assaults.
The case first came to public attention on August 4, 2024, when Høiby was arrested following an alleged assault on his then-girlfriend the previous night. Within days of that arrest, he issued a rare public statement acknowledging that he had “acted under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument,” citing long-standing struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues.
What initially appeared to be an isolated domestic incident quickly metastasized into a far broader investigation as authorities uncovered evidence pointing to additional alleged victims and offenses. The rape charges reportedly stem from incidents in 2018, 2023, and 2024—with one alleged assault occurring even after the police investigation had commenced.
While Høiby has admitted to some of the lesser charges in the indictment, he has maintained silence on the most serious allegations. His legal team told Agence France-Presse that their client is “saving his version of events for the court,” suggesting that a vigorous defense is anticipated during the trial’s weeks-long proceedings.
The case has attracted wall-to-wall media coverage both in Norway and internationally, with courtroom seats at a premium and satellite trucks lining the streets outside the courthouse.
Trond Noren Isaksen, a prominent Norwegian historian and monarchy expert, characterized the scandal as wholly without precedent in the 120-year history of Norway’s royal family.
“When it comes to the Norwegian royal family, it is without a doubt the biggest scandal” in its history, Isaksen told AFP. “There have been controversies surrounding the choice of spouses and about renovations of the palace and these kinds of things, but never any real scandals involving criminal offenses, let alone so many.”
The case presents particularly acute challenges for Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who has maintained a relatively low public profile since the charges became public. Høiby is her son from a relationship that predated her 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, Norway’s heir apparent. While Høiby was raised within the royal household and has been a familiar face at official functions, he holds no formal royal title and is not in the line of succession to the throne.
As the trial unfolds in the coming weeks, observers say the case could have lasting ramifications for public perception of the Norwegian royal family, which has generally enjoyed strong popular support. How the palace navigates the delicate balance between supporting a family member and maintaining an appropriate distance from serious criminal proceedings will be closely watched.
The outcome of the trial, expected sometime after mid-March, will determine not only Høiby’s personal fate but may also serve as a watershed moment for a monarchy attempting to navigate the complex intersection of public duty, private tragedy, and criminal accountability.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is standing trial on 38 criminal charges, including four counts of rape and abuse of former partners—offenses spanning from 2018 to 2024.
Historians are calling this the most serious scandal in the Norwegian royal family’s 120-year history. If convicted, he faces up to 16 years in prison. While Høiby has admitted to substance abuse issues and some minor charges, he has denied the most serious allegations, with his defense team indicating he will present his account in court.
The trial, running through March 19, represents an unprecedented crisis for a monarchy that has never before faced criminal proceedings of this magnitude involving a member of the royal household.
