Conviction of Norway’s Crown Princess’s Son Sparks Controversy

The son of Norway’s Crown Princess, Marius Borg Høiby, has been found guilty of several offenses, including two counts of rape. The high-profile trial has distanced the Nordic monarchy from these events. On Monday morning, an Oslo court sentenced the 29-year-old to four years in prison.

Høiby was convicted of raping two women: one at Skaugum, a royal estate near Oslo, in 2018, and another woman in Oslo in 2024. He was also guilty of additional crimes, such as assaulting his former girlfriend, public figure Nora Haukland. In total, he faced 40 charges, with convictions on 34 counts, including abuse in intimate relationships.

The court cleared him of two rape charges concerning a woman at a hotel in Oslo in November 2024 and another woman in Lofoten in the previous year. Despite his plea of innocence on the severe charges, Høiby admitted to lesser offenses. The trial concluded in March after six weeks.

According to Norwegian media, Høiby’s defense team plans to appeal the verdict.

Background on Marius Borg Høiby

Marius Borg Høiby, though closely tied to royalty, does not hold a formal role within the monarchy. His mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, married Crown Prince Haakon when Høiby was young, leading Haakon to regard him as a vital family member. He is the oldest son of Mette-Marit, who along with Haakon, has two younger children—Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

Previously, Høiby was well-received in Norway and affectionately dubbed “little Marius.” Over time, however, public perception has shifted. Historian and royal analyst Ole-Jørgen Schulerud-Hansen reflected on this change, noting how his prominence within the royal family has waned.

The Crown Princess, Mette-Marit, also experienced scrutiny earlier this year following her identification in documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Though she faced no allegations, she apologized for prior contacts with Epstein after his 2008 conviction.

Adding to challenges, Mette-Marit was recently listed for a lung transplant due to chronic lung disease, leading the royal family to reduce public duties. Appeals courts have denied Høiby’s visitation rights with his mother before the trial’s verdict.

The public’s royal support diminished during Høiby’s trial, hitting a low of 60% but slightly recuperated last month, as Reuters reported. The royal court has refrained from commenting on the trial’s result.

Sturla Henriksboe, the trial’s prosecutor, praised the judgment against Høiby as a “victory for our justice system,” emphasizing accountability for serious offenses irrespective of social or familial connections.