Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is the oldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne.
On Monday, an Oslo court sentenced Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son to four years in prison on two counts of rape and additional charges, marking a scandal that has deeply unsettled the monarchy.
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Marius Borg Høiby, age 29, who is Mette-Marit’s son from a relationship before her 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, faced 40 accusations including rape and traffic infractions, with a maximum potential sentence of 16 years.
One of the rapes for which he was found guilty reportedly occurred at the official residence of the crown prince couple in 2018.
Høiby, who is not officially part of the royal family and is unemployed, was acquitted of two other rape allegations but convicted of repeated domestic violence against an ex-girlfriend, as well as traffic violations, threats, and various other offenses.
The prosecution had requested a seven-year prison sentence.
Høiby denied the gravest accusations, including the rape charges—which prosecutors claimed occurred when the women were asleep or unconscious—and the domestic violence charge.
The defense counsel requested that Høiby serve only 18 months for the lesser charges he admitted to, including transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana, assaults, and issuing threats.
Since February 1, Høiby has been in custody and was absent from court on Monday due to unspecified medical reasons, participating via video link.
One of the rape victims present in court became tearful when the judge declared the guilty verdict in her case.
Life of excess
The trial, conducted from February 3 to March 19, revealed the extravagant lifestyle led by Høiby, who came into the spotlight at age three when his mother’s relationship with the crown prince began.
«I am mainly recognized as my mother’s son and not for anything else. That has driven a strong craving for acknowledgment throughout my life,» he told the court.
«This manifested in numerous instances of sex, drug use, and heavy drinking,» he added.
The rapes he was charged with, including one that allegedly took place at the royal couple’s residence, occurred between 2018 and 2024, following nights of partying involving alcohol and drugs, according to Høiby.
The prosecution maintained that the incidents involved consensual sex that was followed by sexual activity taking place while the women appeared unconscious or asleep, thus incapable of consenting.
A significant part of the trial’s debate focused on assessing the women’s state of awareness and what Høiby could reasonably have perceived at those moments.
In his closing statement, prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo characterized Høiby as a man who «believes he can act without limits».
Despite inconsistencies in his recollection and unclear explanations, Høiby consistently claimed he was «not accustomed to having sex with women while they were asleep.»
He also voiced criticism of the media pressure, saying it portrayed him as «a monster» and made him «the target of nationwide hatred.»
‘Reign of terror’
The controversy broke out on August 4, 2024, when police detained Høiby on suspicion of assaulting his then-girlfriend in her Oslo home the previous evening.
Media outlets showed images of a knife lodged in a wall and a broken chandelier lying on the floor.
One of his former partners, influencer Nora Haukland, later spoke out, alleging that he had subjected her to physical and psychological abuse, described in court by prosecutors as a «reign of terror.»
During the trial, Høiby admitted that jealousy sometimes caused him to lose control.
None of the women involved filed rape charges against Høiby themselves.
Instead, police investigating the August 2024 incident found videos on his devices that allegedly showed rapes and contacted the women, who were unaware of the recordings.
The scandal has brought embarrassment to Norway’s monarchy and led to a decline in public support, although the institution still maintains general popularity.
This follows earlier disclosures about Mette-Marit’s association with the late convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Høiby recently requested release from custody to be with his ailing mother pending the verdict, but the request was declined.
Mette-Marit, aged 52, suffers from a terminal lung condition causing breathing difficulties and was recently placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant.
Additional sources • AP, AFP