By Kostya Manenkov and Mark Lewis
The son of Norway’s crown princess has pleaded not guilty to rape charges as he goes on trial for multiple offences, in a case that has cast a shadow on the royal family’s image.
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. Høiby has no royal title or official duties.
Høiby stood while prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø read out the 38 counts against him in the Oslo district court on Tuesday, asking him if he pleaded guilty.
He replied “no” to the most serious charges, including the four counts of rape.
The charges also include abuse in a close relationship against one former partner, acts of violence against another and transporting 3.5kg of marijuana. Others include making death threats and traffic violations.
Høiby pleaded guilty to several driving offences, to an aggravated drugs offence and to breaking a restraining order, and “partly” to threats and aggravated assault.
Wearing glasses, a brown sweater and beige trousers, he spoke quietly and conferred regularly with a defence lawyer.
Prosecutors have said that Høiby could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted in the trial, which is scheduled to last until March 19. Seven accusers are expected to testify.
“There is equality before the law,” Henriksbø told the court.
“The defendant is the son of the crown princess. He is part of the royal family. He shall nevertheless be treated in the same way as any other person who is charged with the same offences.”
Reflecting international interest in the trial, Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad addressed the court in English, warning that it was prohibited to record or take photographs in the courtroom and advising that some witness testimony would be heard behind closed doors.
Defence lawyer Ellen Andenæs argued that Høiby’s fame had already coloured the case.
He had faced a “tsunami of publicity” over a long period that had made him “feel that he is losing control of his life” and that the weight of public scrutiny from thousands of newspaper articles had made it difficult for him to believe he could prevail, she said.
“Like everyone else, he is innocent until proven guilty.
The verdict will be pronounced in this courtroom and not anywhere else,” the she told the court.
“It is only you who will decide this.”
Outside the courtroom, Hege Salomon, a lawyer for one of the women accusing Høiby of rape, said her client wanted to remain anonymous and was “very scared” that the public might learn her name, adding “the media coverage adds to the pressure, especially because she’s not a famous person”.
The investigation began in 2024. Police were first called to an apartment in Oslo’s upscale Frogner neighbourhood following reports of a violent incident.
Høiby was arrested and later released, but the case expanded as more women came forward with allegations.
The indictment prosecutors centres on four alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024; alleged violence and threats against a former partner between the summer of 2022 and the autumn of 2023; and two alleged acts of violence against a subsequent partner, along with violations of a restraining order.
It was expanded in January, when Høiby was charged with six more offences, including possession and delivery of large quantities of marijuana and further restraining order violations.
He was free pending trial until Sunday, when police said he was arrested over new allegations of assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order.
Crown Prince Haakon said last week that he and Mette-Marit don’t plan to attend the trial and that the royal house doesn’t intend to comment during the proceedings.
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