Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, denies rape allegations
Oslo, Norway | February 3, 2026 | The Global Journal
Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has denied allegations of rape. The trial over multiple serious charges against him began on Tuesday at the Oslo District Court, drawing renewed controversy and criticism toward Norway’s royal family.
The 29-year-old Høiby pleaded not guilty in court to four counts of rape. If convicted on the most serious charges, he could face at least 10 years in prison. Although he is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the Norwegian throne, Høiby holds no official royal title or role.
According to court sources, Høiby faces a total of 38 charges. These include four alleged rapes committed between 2018 and 2024, violence and threats against a former partner between 2022 and 2023, two acts of violence against another partner, violations of a restraining order, and drug possession. The court has said that parts of the trial will be held behind closed doors.
After being arrested several times in 2024, Høiby was formally indicted last August. He remained free on bail until the start of the trial, but was re-arrested on Sunday on new allegations of assault, threats with a knife, and violation of a restraining order. Citing the risk of reoffending, the court ordered that he be kept in custody for up to one month.
Høiby’s defense lawyer, Petar Sekulic, said the latest arrest followed an alleged “incident” involving another person, but declined to provide further details. He has previously stated that his client denies all charges of sexual abuse and most of the allegations related to violence.
The trial has begun at a time when Norway’s royal family is facing intense criticism over Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past contacts with the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Recently released documents related to Epstein investigations by the United States Department of Justice mentioned Mette-Marit numerous times.
In a statement, Mette-Marit said she “must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein’s background more thoroughly,” describing their interactions as “simply embarrassing.”
Meanwhile, on the same day, Norway’s parliament voted overwhelmingly to retain the country’s monarchy, rejecting a proposal to transition to a republic despite the recent turmoil.
— The Global Journal