Norway’s crown princess’s eldest son has been taken into custody right before his trial begins on multiple charges, including rape, causing an uncomfortable situation for the royal family, as announced by the police on Monday.
Marius Borg Høiby was apprehended on Sunday evening and is facing allegations of assault, knife threats, and breaching a restraining order, according to a police statement. The authorities have requested a four-week detention citing the risk of repeat offenses.
He is set to face trial at the Oslo district court on Tuesday, with the indictment listing 38 charges such as rape, domestic abuse against a former partner, physical violence towards another individual, and possession of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. Additional accusations involve making threats of violence and traffic violations.
Høiby has been under scrutiny since his multiple arrests in 2024 on various allegations, but was out on bail until Sunday.
Prosecutors have indicated that Høiby, aged 29, could potentially face a decade in jail if found guilty during the trial, expected to conclude by mid-March.
Høiby, born from Mette-Marit’s previous relationship, is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne.
Despite the general popularity of the Norwegian royals, the Høiby case has tarnished their reputation.
Epstein files reveal connection
Prior to the trial, the release of new documents from the Epstein files on Friday shed light on Mette-Marit in a negative manner. These documents contained numerous mentions of the crown princess, who had previously expressed regret in 2019 for her association with Epstein, as reported by Norwegian media.
The freshly disclosed documents, including email exchanges with Epstein, demonstrated that Mette-Marit stayed at one of Epstein’s properties in Palm Beach, Fla., for several days in early 2013, with the royal house confirming this through a mutual acquaintance, as per broadcaster NRK.
In an emailed statement from the royal house, Mette-Marit acknowledged her lapse in judgment for not thoroughly researching Epstein’s background and realizing his true character sooner.
She expressed deep regret for her association with Epstein, calling it embarrassing, and extended sympathy to Epstein’s victims.
In addition to Mette-Marit’s links to Epstein and Høiby’s trial, Norway’s royals have faced negative publicity due to Princess Märtha Louise’s business dealings. In 2024, around the same time as Høiby’s case made headlines, Märtha Louise married Durek Verrett, an American self-proclaimed shaman.