Oslo police have announced charges against Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, following a lengthy investigation. The charges include multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and bodily harm.
According to reliable sources, Høiby, who is 28 years old, has been under scrutiny since a series of arrests in 2024. Oslo Police Attorney Andreas Kruszewski reports that the evidence in the case includes text messages, witness testimonies, and results from police searches. The significance of this should not be overlooked, as it involves a member of the extended Norwegian royal family.
Høiby is not in the direct line of succession. He was born before Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001. While raised alongside his royal stepsiblings, Høiby holds no official public role.
The charges, as detailed by Kruszewski, encompass one case of rape involving intercourse, two cases of rape without intercourse, four cases of sexual assault, and two cases of bodily harm. Reports indicate that the number of alleged victims is in the double digits, though exact figures have not been disclosed.
This development raises important questions about the impact on the Norwegian royal family and the legal process ahead. Høiby’s defense attorney, Petar Sekulic, states that his client is taking the accusations seriously but denies wrongdoing in most cases, particularly those involving sexual abuse and violence.
It is crucial to remember that by democratic principles, Høiby is entitled to the presumption of innocence until a court determines otherwise. The royal palace has not yet made a statement regarding this matter.
