A Norwegian court is scheduled to announce its verdict and sentence Monday in the rape trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The case has captivated Norway and is widely anticipated to result in prison time regardless of how the court rules on the most serious charges.
Høiby faces a total of 40 criminal charges, which include four counts of rape along with allegations of violence, threats, and abuse.
Prosecutors have asked Oslo District Court to impose a sentence of seven years and seven months behind bars. Defense attorneys, however, contend that Høiby should be cleared of the rape allegations entirely and receive no more than 18 months for the offenses he has already admitted to committing.
The six-week trial wrapped up in March following testimony from multiple accusers and the introduction of evidence that included messages, images, and videos recovered from Høiby’s cellphone. The rape charges involve four different women and span a period from 2018 to 2024. In each instance, the women are alleged to have been asleep or severely incapacitated at the time.
Høiby has denied the rape accusations and challenged key aspects of several other allegations. He has acknowledged committing some lesser offenses, including drug-related crimes, traffic violations, and violations of a restraining order.
The case has drawn significant international attention due to Høiby’s ties to Norway’s royal family. While he holds no royal title and carries no official responsibilities, he is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a relationship prior to her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon — the heir to Norway’s throne — and he was raised in the same household as the future king.
Public interest has grown even more intense in recent days as Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s health has declined. The crown princess suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and is currently awaiting a lung transplant. Her condition became a focal point in legal arguments over whether Høiby should be temporarily released from custody ahead of the verdict. Appeals courts ruled that he must remain detained while the judgment is pending.
The trial has also taken place against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of the royal family, following revelations about Mette-Marit’s past connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased sex offender. She has publicly apologized for the association, stating that she used poor judgment in maintaining contact with him. She has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Editor’s Note: This story includes discussion of sexual assault. If you or someone you know needs help, please call 1-800-656-4673 for the national sexual assault hotline in the U.S., or +47 800 57 000 for the helpline for victims of sexual abuse in Norway.
