Marius Borg Høiby, Son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Indicted on 32 Charges, Including 4 Counts of Rape

After an investigation, which closed in June, the Norwegian Public Prosecutor’s Office officially indicted Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Princess Mette-Marit of Norway. The 28-year-old, the future queen consort’s son with ex-partner Morten Borg, is facing an indictment for 32 offenses, including four for rape, one with sexual intercourse and three without. [Editor’s Note: In Norway, the crime of rape also includes incomplete sexual acts committed against a victim who is unable to resist.]

“The maximum penalty for the crimes listed in the indictment is imprisonment for up to 10 years,” said state attorney Sturla Henriksbø in a press conference, stressing the seriousness of the situation. “It is not relevant to arrest him now until new circumstances emerge that make it necessary,” he continued, adding that no member of the royal family will be called to testify in the criminal case against Høiby. “My assessment is that there are no members of the royal family who have been in a place or have been in contact with the accused or the injured parties in a way that makes it essential to have them as witnesses in the case, or who can shed light on the case better than we can with the evidence.”

However, some former guards from Skaugum Castle, the official residence of Princess Mette-Marit and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, the future king, may be questioned. Marius himself lived there until a few months ago, when he reportedly moved to an outbuilding after he and some guests he hosted in the palace’s cellars were accused of theft.

In addition to the more serious charges, Marius Borg Høiby was also alleged to have committed lesser offenses, such as driving without a license, vandalism, and violating a restraining order.

The young man’s trial could begin as early as January, but he has no intention of pleading guilty to the most serious charges, according to his attorney, Petar Sekulik. “Our client denies all allegations of sexual abuse, as well as most allegations of violence,” Sekulik said in a statement to the New York Post. “He will present a detailed account of his version of events before the court.”

On Tuesday, Prince Haakon told reporters, “We will continue to carry out our duties as best we can, as we always do.” He added, “Everyone involved in this case probably finds it challenging and difficult.” The Norwegian palace told Norwegian broadcaster NRK, “It is up to the courts to hear this case and reach a decision.” In November 2024, Prince Haakon told NRK that the case was solely the responsibility of the authorities. “Marius is facing serious charges, which the police and the judiciary will deal with,” he said. “I am confident that they will do a good job.”

The prosecutor said that Høiby will not be given preferential treatment. “The fact that he is a member of the royal family should not, of course, mean that he should be treated more lightly or more severely than if others had committed similar acts,” Henriksbo emphasized.

Marius Borg Høiby with the royal family during one of his last public appearances in 2022.

Rune Hellestad/Getty Images

Høiby’s case began last year, when he was arrested three times within a few months. The charges involved assaults on women with whom he’d been in relationships. In August 2024, he was investigated after an attack on Rebecca Helberg Arntsen, his ex-girlfriend, in an Oslo apartment that he damaged. Arntsen was hospitalized for a concussion and later discharged. The second arrest came a few weeks later on charges of violating a restraining order initiated by Arntsen. The most serious charge came last November, when a second investigation accused the young man of violating Article 291(b) of the Criminal Code, which deals with rape, specifically of sexual intercourse with persons who are unconscious or who for other reasons are unable to resist.

Originally published in Vanity Fair France