The trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s crown princess, began on Tuesday facing multiple charges, including rape, marking the start of a lengthy legal process that has brought negative attention to the royal family.
Høiby, 29, is the eldest child of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon. Despite his royal connections, he does not hold any official royal title or duties.
Since his multiple arrests in 2024 on various allegations, Høiby has been under public scrutiny. The trial, which commenced at the Oslo district court, is expected to continue until March 19.
The charges against Høiby amount to 38, encompassing accusations of rape, domestic abuse, violent acts, drug transportation, making death threats, and traffic violations. If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison with seven alleged victims set to provide testimony.
The trial has attracted global interest, with the judge addressing the court in English to emphasize the prohibition on recording or photographing proceedings, and noting that certain witness testimonies would be heard privately.
Høiby’s defense team has vehemently denied the charges of sexual abuse and the majority of violence-related allegations. Recently, Høiby was taken into custody following fresh allegations of assault, knife threats, and breaching a restraining order, leading to a court decision to detain him for up to four weeks due to concerns of reoffending.
The case has tarnished the royal family’s reputation, with King Harald and other royals facing public scrutiny. Although Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have chosen not to attend the trial and maintain silence during the proceedings, the negative attention continues to affect the family’s image.
Coinciding with Høiby’s trial, Mette-Marit has come under renewed scrutiny for her previous interactions with Jeffrey Epstein, as more documents from the Epstein files have been released. The royal house has clarified that Mette-Marit regrets her past association with Epstein, as reported by Norwegian media.