Norway's Crown Princess's son sentenced to 4 years in prison due to rape allegations

The Oslo District Court has sentenced 29-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon of the Norwegian Royal Family and the eldest son of Princess Mette-Marit, to four years in prison for several criminal offenses, including rape charges. This court decision, announced today (15), found him guilty of two counts of rape and several other serious offenses.

This high-profile trial, which has severely impacted the reputation and image of the Norwegian Royal Family, drew significant attention from both the public in Norway and the international community.

Marius, born on January 13, 1997, is the child from Princess Mette-Marit's previous marriage. After her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, he became a member of the Royal Family. However, he was not assigned any official royal titles or duties. Having previously been a subject of public discussion due to drug-related issues, this court decision marks the most serious legal consequence he has faced in his life.

Marius was accused of nearly 40 different criminal offenses allegedly committed between 2018 and late 2024. These included four counts of rape involving the sexual abuse of unconscious or sleeping women, domestic violence, threats, and drug offenses. The court found him guilty of two counts of rape, one of which occurred in 2018 at the Crown Prince's official residence, Skaugum, with video evidence presented. The other rape incident took place in Oslo in 2024.

Additionally, he was found guilty of domestic violence against his ex-girlfriend Nora Haukland, causing severe bodily harm, and drug trafficking. However, the judges acquitted him of the other two rape charges. While Marius admitted to minor charges such as drug transportation and traffic offenses, he denied all rape charges. In this case, the prosecution sought a sentence of seven years and seven months, and although the defense lawyers requested approximately 18 months, the judges ultimately imposed a four-year prison sentence.

Marius participated in this trial, which lasted over six weeks at the Oslo District Court, via video link from prison. His health condition was cited as the reason, and it is reported that he will accept this verdict without filing an appeal. At the time the verdict was announced, one of the victimized women was present in the courtroom and was visibly emotional, according to media reports. Under Norwegian law, sexual intercourse with an unconscious person or someone lacking self-control without their consent is considered rape. The court reached this conclusion based on witness statements, phone records, and behavioral patterns.

This entire incident garnered significant attention both domestically and from international media outlets like BBC and Reuters, with large queues of people observed outside the court during the trial days. Opinion polls reveal that the popularity of the Norwegian monarchy has significantly declined due to this event. This crisis is particularly notable as it emerged amidst ongoing criticism of Princess Mette-Marit's past associations with Jeffrey Epstein and her suffering from serious health issues, including being on a waiting list for a lung transplant. In light of this situation, the Royal Family has expressed their regret and support to the victims, and this case has also sparked a societal discussion about the accountability of elite families, the impact on victims, and the principle of equality before the law for all.