Norwegian prosecutors have confirmed that Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, will stand trial from February 3 through March at the Oslo District Court over multiple rape allegations and other criminal charges.
Prosecutors said Høiby, 29, is charged with four counts of rape and a total of 28 criminal offences, including violence against former girlfriends, restraining order violations, traffic offences and a serious narcotics crime.
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø said in a statement that an additional indictment was issued on Monday, bringing the total number of charges to six in the latest filing. One of the new charges relates to a “serious narcotics offence” dating back to 2020, involving the transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana.
Henriksbø said Høiby has admitted to the drug offence. His lawyer, Ellen Holager Andenæs, told Norwegian news agency NTB that her client had “on one occasion transported marijuana from A to B without earning a penny.”
The additional charges also include two counts of violating restraining orders and three traffic violations for driving a motorcycle at high speed. Prosecutors said the new indictment will be considered during the main trial, which begins on February 3.
Høiby was arrested on August 4, 2024, on suspicion of assaulting his then-girlfriend. He was formally charged on August 18 with four rapes and numerous other offences.
According to prosecutors, the alleged rapes occurred in 2018, 2023 and 2024, with the most recent incident said to have taken place after police investigations had already begun.
Høiby denies the most serious charges, including rape and domestic violence, but plans to plead guilty to some lesser offences. His lawyer, Petar Sekulic, told Reuters last year that his client “does not agree with the claims regarding rape and domestic violence.”
In a public statement issued 10 days after his arrest, Høiby said he had acted “under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument,” adding that he had suffered from mental health problems and had “struggled for a long time with substance abuse.”
Høiby was born from Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s previous relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon. He was raised by the royal couple alongside his half-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 19. Unlike them, he has no official royal duties or public role.
The case is widely regarded as the most serious scandal to affect the Norwegian royal family in recent history.
