By SCM Staff Writer
OSLO, Norway — The Norwegian Royal Family has been rocked to its core as the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit faces a staggering 38 criminal counts, including the alleged rape of four women.
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, the stepson of future King Crown Prince Haakon, is now staring down a potential 16-year prison sentence as prosecutors lay out a dark web of accusations that have sent shockwaves through the Scandinavian nation.
The Charges
The rap sheet against Høiby has ballooned following months of investigation.
Sources in Oslo confirmed the charges include:
Sexual Assault: Allegations involving the rape of four separate victims.
Drug Offenses: Multiple counts related to the possession and use of narcotics.
Violent Conduct: Additional charges linked to physical altercations.
Høiby, who does not hold a royal title but has been raised within the heart of the monarchy since his mother married Prince Haakon in 2001, was previously arrested following a domestic incident in August. Since then, the case has snowballed into a national crisis for the “People’s Princess” Mette-Marit.
The Palace has remained largely silent, maintaining that the matter is a “police issue,” but the scale of the charges has made it impossible for the Royal House to distance itself from the scandal.
Mette-Marit, who has long been a beloved figure for her openness about her own “rebellious” past before joining the Royals, is said to be “devastated” as her firstborn faces the prospect of spending his 30s in a prison cell.
The “Black Sheep” of the Palace
To understand the gravity of this scandal, it is essential to look at the unique position Marius Borg Høiby holds in the Norwegian Royal Family:
The “Bonus” Son: Marius is Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship before she met Crown Prince Haakon.
While he grew up alongside Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, he has always been a private citizen without official duties.
A History of Trouble: Often portrayed by the press as a “party boy,” Høiby has struggled with the spotlight for years.
His mother famously penned an open letter to the media in 2017, asking for his privacy as he stepped away from public life.
The Breaking Point: The current legal nightmare began in August 2024, when he was detained following a “psychological and physical” incident at an apartment in Oslo.
The subsequent police investigation opened a “Pandora’s Box” of further complainants, leading to the current 38-count indictment.
Under Norwegian law, the maximum penalty for the most serious crimes in this indictment can reach 16 years, though the court will ultimately decide if the sentences run concurrently.
