The son of the crown princess of Norway will be tried for allegedly raping four women

In the biggest scandal to rock Norway’s monarchy, Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son goes on trial Tuesday accused of raping four womenas well as drug and assault crimes.

Marius Borg HoibyMette-Marit’s 29-year-old son from a relationship before she married Crown Prince Haakon, has been charged with a total of 38 counts, some of which date back to 2018.

He faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted by the Oslo district court. The trial, scheduled to last until March 19, is expected to attract intense media coverage.

“When it comes to the Norwegian royal family, it is without a doubt the biggest scandal” in its 120-year history, Trond Noren Isaksen, a historian and expert on the Norwegian monarchy, told News.

“There have been controversies over the choice of spouses, over the renovation of the palace and that sort of thing, but never any real scandals involving criminal offences, much less so many,” he said.

The most serious charges against Hoiby are the four rapes and the physical and psychological abuse of several ex-girlfriends.

So far he has only confessed to some of the minor charges.

“Hoiby saves his version of events for the court,” the law firm defending him told News.

Some rapes were filmed.

A tall blonde who cultivates a “bad boy” look with slicked back hair, earrings, rings, and tattoos. Hoiby was arrested on August 4, 2024, suspected of attacking his girlfriend the night before.

Several days later, he admitted to having acted “under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument,” to having suffered “mental problems,” and to having struggled “for a long time with substance abuse.”

The investigation into that incident uncovered a series of other alleged crimes, including the rapes of four women while they were asleep or passed out drunk, some of which he filmed.

The four rapes allegedly took place in 2018, 2023 and 2024, the last after the police investigation began.

Last week, police announced six new charges against him, including a 2020 “felony narcotics offense” in which he transported 3.5 kilos of marijuana, without financial compensation. He has confessed to that crime.

The case has exposed the bad company of Hoiby, who has no royal title, official position or professional career. The crown prince’s partner supports him financially.

He has also deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung disease and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.

Haakon issued a statement Wednesday, saying that neither he nor Mette-Marit plan to attend the trial, he said.

“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this case. It has an impact on people, their families and all those who care about them. We understand that this is a difficult time for many of you and we sympathize,” says Haakon’s statement, which was published by the Royal House of Norway and shared in English.

“At the same time, it is comforting to know that we live in a State governed by the rule of law. I trust that those responsible for overseeing the process will ensure that the trial is carried out in the most orderly, appropriate and fair manner possible,” he continued.

“Important member of our family”

Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo has insisted that all people are equal before the law, “regardless of their social status, origin or family ties.”

“This means that Hoiby should not receive more lenient or harsher treatment because of his family affiliations,” he told News.

Hoiby was raised by the royal couple alongside his half-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Unlike them, it has no official public role.

In his statement Wednesday, Haakon alluded to Hoiby’s “autonomous” status.

“Marius Borg Høiby is not a member of the Royal House of Norway and is therefore autonomous. We care about him and he is an important member of our family. He is a citizen of Norway and as such has the same responsibilities as everyone else, as well as the same rights,” Haakon said.

The prosecutor said the most serious crimes carry sentences of up to 10 years behind bars, which can be raised to a maximum of 16 years if the court finds him guilty of multiple charges.

The scandal, which comes on top of the antics of Princess Martha Louise, Haakon’s older sister who married a self-proclaimed American shaman in 2024, has tarnished the image of the royal family, although it remains very popular in Norway.

An opinion poll published on Wednesday by public broadcaster NRK indicated that 70% of respondents support the monarchy, up from 81% in 2017.

“People feel compassion for an aging royal couple, who are obviously completely innocent in this matter,” said Carl-Erik Grimstad, a former palace employee turned author, referring to King Harald and Queen Sonja, both 88 and seen as unifying figures of the nation.

And “in times of geopolitical turbulence, people tend to rally around the symbols closest to them,” he added.

The verdict is expected several weeks after the end of the trial.