Oslo: The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess will face trial on Tuesday in a high-profile criminal case that has put the country’s otherwise popular royal family under intense public scrutiny.
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, will appear in Oslo District Court after being indicted last August following a lengthy police investigation. According to prosecutors, he faces 38 charges, including multiple rapes, domestic abuse, violence, drug offenses and threats, the Associated Press reported.
The indictment alleges four counts of rape between 2018 and November 2024, violence and threats against a former partner from mid-2022 to late 2023, and two other acts of violence against another partner. Authorities also charged Høiby with violating a restraining order, making death threats, violating traffic regulations and transporting 3.5 kg of marijuana.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. The trial is expected to continue until mid-March, the report said.
Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of Norway’s heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. He does not hold a royal title and has no official role within the monarchy.
He has been under investigation since 2024, when he was arrested several times on various charges. He remained free pending trial, the AP reported.
Defense attorney Petar Sekulic said Høiby denies all allegations of sexual abuse and most allegations of violence, adding that his client will present his own account of events during the trial, the AP reported.
In a rare public comment, Crown Prince Haakon said he and Crown Princess Mette-Marit would not attend the trial and that the royal household would refrain from commenting while the case was ongoing. He emphasized that Høiby is not a member of the royal house and is subject to the same legal rights and obligations as any Norwegian citizen.
The Norwegian monarchy continues to enjoy widespread public support, but the case casts a shadow over its image. Royal commentator Tove Taalesen told local media that the past year and a half has been deeply troubling for the public, although confidence in King Harald V and Queen Sonja remains largely intact.
The Høiba controversy comes amid other challenges for the royal family, including criticism of business ventures linked to Haakon’s sister, Princess Märtha Louise, who married American spiritual figure Durek Verret in 2024.