Son of Norway’s Crown Princess Convicted of Multiple Offenses

Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was convicted of numerous offenses, including two counts of rape, after a widely publicized trial. The trial has seen efforts by the Norwegian monarchy to maintain distance from the proceedings.

On Monday, an Oslo court sentenced Høiby, 29, to four years in prison. He was found guilty of rape involving an unnamed woman at Skaugum, a royal estate near Oslo, in 2018. Additionally, he was convicted of raping another woman in Oslo in 2024.

Alongside these charges, Høiby faced several other convictions. He was found guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, Norwegian influencer Nora Haukland. In total, he faced 40 charges and was convicted of 34, including abuse within close relationships.

While Høiby was acquitted of some charges, such as two counts of rape involving incidents in a hotel in Oslo in November 2024 and with another woman in the Lofoten islands the previous year, he did plead not guilty to the most serious offenses, although he admitted to some lesser charges. His trial, which lasted six weeks, concluded in March.

Høiby’s defense attorneys announced intentions to appeal the verdict, as reported by Norwegian media.

Who Is Marius Borg Høiby?

Høiby, although not a working royal, has been closely linked to the Norwegian monarchy. His mother, Mette-Marit, married Crown Prince Haakon when Høiby was just four years old. Crown Prince Haakon has referred to Høiby as “an important member” of their family.

Mette-Marit and Haakon share two younger children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Over the years, public perception of Høiby has shifted. Historian and royal commentator Ole-Jørgen Schulerud-Hansen noted that while Høiby was once a beloved figure, the future king’s stepson has seen his popularity wane in recent years.

Earlier this year, Mette-Marit herself experienced scrutiny after her name appeared in documents related to convicted pedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein. Although not accused of wrongdoing, she apologized for her past association with Epstein following his 2008 conviction.

The crown princess, who is in line to become queen pending her husband’s accession, was recently placed on a lung transplant list. The royal family has since scaled back public appearances due to her chronic lung disease.

Despite appeals, courts ruled against releasing Høiby from custody to visit his mother prior to the verdict.

Public support for Norway’s royal family fell to a low of 60% during Høiby’s trial but reportedly saw a slight recovery recently, according to Reuters. The royal court has refrained from commenting on the trial’s outcome.

Sturla Henriksboe, the trial’s prosecutor, described the verdict as a “victory for our justice system.” He emphasized that serious crimes are not excused by familial connections, regardless of status.