"The most significant scandal in the 120-year history of Norway's monarchy."
Marius Borg Høiby Sentenced to Four Years in Prison
The 29-year-old stepson of Norway's Crown Prince Haakon has been sentenced to four years in prison by an Oslo court. Marius Borg Høiby was found guilty of two counts of rape, domestic violence, and other offenses, but was acquitted of two additional rape charges.
The sentencing concludes a high-profile trial that lasted six to seven weeks, coinciding with increased public scrutiny of the Norwegian royal family, including separate revelations regarding Crown Princess Mette-Marit's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein.
Verdict and Sentence
On Monday, the Oslo District Court found Høiby guilty of:
- Two counts of rape
- Domestic violence and abuse in close relationships
- Drug-related crimes
- Violations of a restraining order
He was sentenced to four years in prison. The court acquitted Høiby of two other rape charges due to insufficient evidence. Prosecutors had requested a sentence of seven years and seven months, while the defense argued for no more than 18 months.
Charges and Pleas
Høiby faced a total of 38 to 40 charges, including four counts of rape alleged to have occurred between 2018 and 2024. The charges involved four women who were reportedly asleep or incapacitated. Other charges included assault, threats to kill, transporting 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds) of marijuana, and traffic violations.
- Plea: Høiby pleaded not guilty to the most severe charges, including all four counts of rape and the majority of violence-related charges. He admitted to several lesser offenses, including drug-related crimes, bodily harm, and driving offenses.
- Defense Response: Defense lawyers stated that Høiby denied all allegations of sexual abuse.
Trial and Evidence
The trial lasted between six and seven weeks in the Oslo District Court. During the proceedings, the court considered extensive evidence:
- Over 800 electronic messages were presented as evidence
- Self-recorded video footage of sexual encounters was introduced
- Høiby's cellphone provided key evidence
- Witnesses included the accusers and Høiby, who testified about his struggles with drug addiction and a "need for affirmation"
One alleged rape was reported to have occurred in the basement of the official Skaugum residence, the family home of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The judge stated that the court found it proven that the victim in this incident "was not able to resist the action."
Courtroom Observations
Høiby was not present in court for the verdict due to health reasons. He followed the proceedings via video link from Oslo Prison, where he had been held since February 1. One of the accusing women was present in court and was observed crying after the guilty verdict was read.
Right to Appeal
Høiby retains the right to appeal the verdict. The sentence is not final until the appeal process is concluded.
Royal Family Context
Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a prior relationship and became part of the royal family when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001. He holds no royal title and has no official public duties. He is not in the line of succession.
- Family Statement: Crown Prince Haakon stated that Høiby is not a member of the Royal House of Norway and, as a Norwegian citizen, holds the same legal responsibilities and rights as any other individual. Neither Crown Prince Haakon nor Crown Princess Mette-Marit attended the trial. The royal household stated it would not comment during the proceedings.
Impact on the Monarchy
The trial coincided with other challenges for the Norwegian royal family, contributing to increased public scrutiny. Public opinion polls conducted during the trial period showed fluctuations in support for the monarchy.
- A Norstat survey indicated that support for keeping the monarchy fell to 60% in February from 70% in January, while support for a republic rose to 27% from 19%.
- A subsequent poll in May showed support for the monarchy had recovered to 64%, with 23% favoring a different system.
- Historian Trond Noren Isaksen described this as the most significant scandal in the 120-year history of Norway's monarchy.
Related Developments: Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Jeffrey Epstein
The trial of Marius Borg Høiby occurred simultaneously with the public release of US Justice Department documents detailing Crown Princess Mette-Marit's past contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
- Contact Details: The documents revealed frequent email exchanges between Mette-Marit and Epstein between 2011 and 2014. The Crown Princess reportedly stayed at Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida, residence for several days in January 2013 when he was not present.
- Crown Princess's Response: In a subsequent interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Mette-Marit stated she was "manipulated and deceived" and expressed regret over meeting Epstein. She acknowledged "poor judgment" for not investigating his background more thoroughly and expressed sympathy for Epstein's victims. She stated that she ended contact with Epstein in 2014 after she felt he was "trying to use his relationship with the crown princess as leverage with other people."
- Health: Crown Princess Mette-Marit has been diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and is on the national lung transplant list. Without a transplant, doctors have estimated she has approximately one year to live.