Norwegian Royal Family Under Spotlight Amidst Major Court Trial

Mon Feb 02 2026 16:41:36 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Marius Borg Høiby, stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, faces serious charges, including multiple counts of rape and assault, putting Norway's royal family in a challenging position as they navigate public scrutiny.

Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, is on trial for 38 serious charges, including rape, assault, and drug offenses. As his family distances themselves from the trial, media coverage intensifies on the royal family's ongoing struggles with the implications of Marius’s alleged actions.

When Marius Borg Høiby stands up in room 250 at Oslo district court on Tuesday, at the start of Norway's biggest trial in years, he will have no moral support from his closest relatives. His mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, will not be there, nor will the man she married when her son was four—the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon.

For the next seven weeks, pictures of the blond 29-year-old will not be allowed in the court as a ban has been imposed. Despite this, the world’s press is present, while the palace maintains its distance.

Høiby faces 38 charges, including the rape of four women, assaulting a girlfriend, and multiple drug and driving offenses. If convicted, he could face over ten years in prison.

The palace emphasizes that Marius is not a public figure; however, he is closely related to the royal family, considered a son by his stepfather and well-known to Norway's beloved King Harald V, 88.

According to reports, Ulf Andre Andersen, the journalist who broke the story of Marius’s alleged charges, stated, It's a very dangerous moment, because the royal family should be role models. Marius has admitted to minor offenses but denies the more severe allegations.

The charges stem from incidents at the Skaugum estate and involve serious accusations, including intercourse with women while incapacitated—actions classified as rape in Norway.

Crown Prince Haakon expressed his love for Marius while addressing the women affected by the allegations, reinforcing the family's connection to him during a tumultuous time.

Paradoxically, the Norwegian royal family, once held in high esteem, faces scrutiny over Marius’s trial amidst a backdrop of personal challenges, specifically Crown Princess Mette-Marit's health. Her struggle with pulmonary fibrosis remains a concern for the royal family.

The palace is also contending with criticism from other recent controversies, including Princess Märtha Louise’s marriage to an American shaman and newfound scrutiny over Mette-Marit's past interactions with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

Despite these troubling events, polls suggest that the monarchy maintains significant public support, demonstrating that many Norwegians are prepared to separate the trial from their respect for the royal family.