Noway’s long-troubled royal family could finally reassemble this week after the past few years of scandal, serious illness and criminal offenses. Crown Princess Mette-Marit was released from hospital, her two youngest adult children have been home for the summer and her oldest son Marius Borg Høiby was released from prison, just as Norway itself was celebrating the country’s national football team’s success at the World Cup.
“I’m deeply grateful,” the crown princess stated after her official release from the National Hospital (Rikshospitalet) in Oslo. She underwent a lung transplant there in mid-June, and she thanked “everyone who makes the choice to donate organs.” Organ donations have increased in Norway, and through them, she said, “I have been given the gift of life.”
Crown Princess Mette-Marit also thanked “everyone who has stood by me,” including her family and “the doctors, surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists and other health care professionals.” The entire royal family has been under enormous pressure after her lung fibrosis disease worsened at the same time of various illnesses plaguing her in-laws King Harald and Queen Sonja. Then came news of her controversial ties to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, just as her oldest son Marius Borg Høiby went on trial in Oslo on multiple counts of rape, assault, vandalism and drug charges.
Høiby, age 29, was also allowed to return home this week to the crown couple’s royal estate at Skaugum, west of Oslo. He’s been held in jail since just before his trial began in February, and prosecutors sought to keep in him custody pending his appeal of a four-year jail term handed down last month. Høiby is a repeat offender and prosecutors were especially worried he’d contact one of his former partners and victims.
The Oslo court, however, decided Høiby could carry out the rest of his confinement at the house he’s been allowed to use on the royal estate, with a foot link that restricts his movements. Prosecutors decided to drop further appeals and Høiby was released on Tuesday from the high-security prison at Ila where he’d most recently been confined.
That brought mother and son home at the same time, even though prosecutors stated they were still concerned he’d “fall back to drugs, take up contact with the ‘Frogner woman’ and assault her again.” Høiby is confined to the house at Skaugum, but can use electronic communications including telephone and computer devices. He can also receive visitors.
Newspaper Aftenposten and other media reported that he’s also, however, obliged to go through a program called “Risk” that’s conducted by police and aims to reduce the risk of new offenses. He’s not allowed to consume drugs or alcohol.
Høiby himself had appealed in court on the grounds his family “has gone through a tough period” with everyone “there for mamma.” He called it “incredibly difficult” to not be able to do the same.
Now Høiby, who has no royal title since he was born before the former Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby met Crown Prince Haakon, he will be able to be with other family members during the crown princess’ recovery period.
Her recovery can take up to a year. Dr Are Holm, head of the department of respiratory medicine at Rikshospitalet, described her condition as being “as good as can be expected under the circumstances.” Holm said Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who will turn 53 in August, will need to undergo physical rehabilitation over the next six months and be closely monitored for possible complications, “including rejection (of her new lungs) and infections.” Holm said it can take a year “before the patient’s condition enters a more stable phase.”
The crown princess is not expected to carry out official duties during her rehabilitation, the palace stated. Crown Prince Haakon “will continue to carry out official engagements during this period,” the palace stated, “but will make some adjustments to spend time with the crown princess.” It’s also expected that Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Norway’s heir to the throne after her father, will also take on new duties during the time ahead.
Crown Prince Haakon called it “a great relief” to have his wife home from the hospital. “We are all very happy that the initial phase has gone as well as it has,” he stated. “We are also incredibly impressed by Oslo University Hospital.
“Although we know that there is a long period of recovery ahead of us, and that complications may arise, it feels very good to have come this far.” Formal celebrations of the couple’s Silver Wedding Anniversary next month have been postponed.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.newsinenglish.no ’
