A court in Oslo has found 29-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced him to four years in prison, according to NRK.

Marius Høiby holds no royal title and carries out no official duties on behalf of the royal household. However, he has remained one of the most prominent figures associated with the Norwegian royal family since his mother, Mette-Marit, married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001.

 

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In total, Høiby faced around 40 charges. These included rape, domestic violence, threats, drug possession, traffic offences and violations of restraining orders issued to protect alleged victims.

The court, however, upheld only part of the indictment, including two counts of sexual assault. According to media reports, both proven offences involved women who were unable to resist at the time of the crimes because they were either asleep or under the influence of substances. Høiby was acquitted of two other similar allegations due to insufficient evidence.

 

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Prosecutors had sought a significantly harsher sentence, requesting seven years and seven months in prison. The defence, by contrast, argued for a sentence of approximately one and a half years. Høiby denied the most serious allegations and stated that he suffers from several mental health disorders and is undergoing treatment.

It is worth noting that Høiby has been involved in a number of scandals over the years. In 2024, he was detained on suspicion of assaulting a woman and driving without a valid licence. Earlier, he had also come to the attention of law enforcement following an incident in which his girlfriend was allegedly assaulted and subsequently hospitalised with injuries.

Photo: Martin Høien, Lise Åserud/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix

The son of Norwegian Princess Mette-Marit from her previous relationship has been arrested on suspicion of rape. According to police, 27-year-old Marius Borg Høiby is accused of violating a section of the penal code concerning «sexual acts with a person who is unconscious or otherwise unable to resist». The alleged victim is reported to be 20 years old.

This is not the first accusation against the princess’s son. In early August, Høiby was detained following a late-night incident at an apartment in Oslo. He was accused of physically assaulting a woman he was in a relationship with. According to media reports, police discovered a knife embedded in one of the bedroom walls at the scene. In September, he was arrested again for allegedly violating a restraining order.

At the time of his latest arrest, he was in a car with the same woman involved in the earlier case. The court is currently considering preventive measures, while the royal family has yet to comment on the situation.

Royal family of NorwayIt remains unclear whether the princess’s son will face a prison sentence. Norway’s judicial system operates independently, meaning that, theoretically, Marius Borg Høiby could end up behind bars despite his royal lineage.

However, Norwegian prisons are often described as resembling luxury resorts rather than traditional detention facilities. These institutions focus on rehabilitation, offering minimal restrictions, modern amenities like gaming consoles, gyms, and swimming pools, as well as educational opportunities.

Photo: Martin Høien, Lise Åserud/AFP/Ritzau Scanpix, Instagram @marius_borg