Son of Norway’s Crown Princess on Trial Amidst Rape and Assault Allegations

Oslo, Norway – The trial of Marius Borg Høiby, 29, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is underway in Oslo, with proceedings continuing on Wednesday as a fourth woman testified regarding allegations of rape. The case has drawn significant media attention and placed the Norwegian royal family under intense scrutiny.

Details of the Allegations

Høiby faces 38 charges, including four counts of rape, domestic abuse against a former partner, and the illegal filming of women without their consent. Prosecutors allege that the alleged rape occurred whereas the woman was sleeping. Høiby has denied the most serious charges, stating he never has sex with sleeping women.

The current testimony centers around an incident that allegedly took place on November 2, 2024, after the woman traveled to Oslo for a Tinder date and checked into an apartment hotel. According to reports, the woman and Høiby later went to the woman’s hotel room where they allegedly engaged in consensual sexual activity multiple times.

The prosecution intends to present 27 videos and four photos as evidence, which they claim document sexual acts while the woman was asleep. Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø stated that the evidence will show sexual acts occurring both early in the morning and later that morning [Nettavisen].

Additional Charges

In addition to the initial 38 charges, Høiby faces six further accusations, including:

• One case of gross violation of the Narcotics Act
• Two novel cases of violation of a restraining order
• Three cases of reckless driving with a motorcycle

Previous Arrests and Legal Proceedings

Høiby has been arrested four times since August 4, 2024, and is currently in custody due to concerns about reoffending after multiple breaches of a restraining order [Reuters]. He pleaded not guilty to rape charges as the trial began on February 3, 2026 [Euronews].

Defense’s Stance

Høiby’s defense team, Ellen Holager Andenæs and Petar Sekulic, maintain his innocence, arguing that the videos do not support the allegations. They claim the videos depict consensual sexual activity and that the timing of the encounters is irrelevant [Nettavisen].

Royal Family’s Position

The Norwegian royal family has largely distanced itself from the case. Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon will not be present in court. The palace has emphasized that Høiby is not a public figure [BBC News].

The trial is expected to last seven weeks, with seven alleged victims scheduled to testify. If convicted, Høiby could face more than 10 years in jail [BBC News].