Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, will head to court in a matter of days, but his family won’t be there to support him
Marius Borg Høiby is facing 38 charges(Image: Getty Images for Tempus Magazine)
The son of Norway’s Crown Princess will be heading to court within a week to face dozens of charges, but it has been revealed that his family won’t be there to support him through the case. Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been charged with 32 counts, including alleged rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner, and acts of violence against another, making death threats, and numerous traffic violations.
Just days ago, he was hit with six new charges, with the most serious being transporting marijuana across Norway. His trial is set to begin in Oslo on February 3 and is expected to run until mid-March.
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Marius Borg Høiby will face court in Oslo in the next week(Image: NTB/AFP via Getty Images)
Despite the lengthy trial, Høiby will be in court alone, as his mother and stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, have confirmed that they will not be present for the legal proceedings.
In a new statement confirming they will not be in court, the Crown Prince also said the Royal Family does not wish to comment on the trial and that official duties will continue. He added that the Crown Princess, Høiby’s mother, will spend a few weeks at a private residence.
In a statement posted on the Norwegian Royal Family website, they said: “We are thinking a lot about all the parties involved in this matter. This is something that affects them, their families, those who love them. We care about them. We know that many of you are going through a difficult time right now.
“At the same time, it is good to know that we live in a state governed by the rule of law. I am sure and have confidence that those responsible for the trial will work to ensure that it is conducted in as orderly, proper and fair a manner as possible.”
The Norwegian Royal Family(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
“Marius Borg Høiby is not part of the Royal House, and in that sense he is free. We are happy for him, and he is an important part of our family. He is a citizen of Norway, and through that he has the same responsibilities as everyone else, but also the same rights.”
In December, Marius’ family – who had remained quiet about the charges – spoke candidly about the upcoming court case and how their family has been impacted. Marius’ mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, and even Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja opened up about the accusations.
Mette-Marit explained why she had been left upset by the allegations against her son, before rejecting claims that she had tipped Marius off about his impending arrest with a phone call. She told the Times: “I think it’s been quite a strain to be accused of such serious things, which of course I did not do. The thing that perhaps upsets me the most is being criticised for how we’ve handled it as parents, that we didn’t take it seriously. I find that hard.”
The future Queen of Norway went on to say that she felt the need to speak out after the intense scrutiny and severity of the claims against her eldest son, as she said: “Our view has always been that this matter must be dealt with in the legal system. That is where it belongs.”
When Marius was formally charged in August 2025, State Attorney Sturla Henriksbø said: “This case is very serious.” He also added that the Høiby’s royal status should not mean that he receives special treatment or leniency under the law. If convicted, the 29-year-old could face up to 10 years in jail.
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