Norway is awaiting a verdict in the high-profile case against Marius Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who faces multiple charges including rape allegations. The case has intensified scrutiny of the royal family as the crown princess battles serious illness.
Norway is awaiting the verdict in the high-profile criminal case involving Marius Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, with the ruling expected on Monday. Høiby, 29, will receive the verdict via video link due to unspecified health reasons, nearly three months after a trial that examined 40 charges, including four counts of rape.
Defence trying to shorten prison sentence
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of seven years and seven months, while Høiby’s defence team argues that a term of around 18 months would be more appropriate. He denies the most serious allegations but has admitted to several lesser offences involving drugs, traffic violations and breaching a restraining order.
Høiby has been in custody since February after being detained on suspicion of assault and violating a restraining order involving a former girlfriend. Attempts by his lawyers to secure his release were repeatedly rejected by the courts.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit
The case has unfolded against the backdrop of a personal crisis within Norway’s royal household. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who married into the royal family when Høiby was a child, is seriously ill and was recently placed on a lung transplant waiting list. According to her doctors, patients are generally placed on the list when they are believed to have a limited life expectancy.
An appeal court recently denied Høiby temporary release to visit his mother. Since then, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon have been seen visiting him in prison.
Four women raped
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that four women were raped while asleep or otherwise unable to consent. Høiby denies the allegations. The women involved were granted anonymity by the court. Several additional charges involve accusations of physical and psychological abuse against former partners.
At one stage during the proceedings, Høiby became emotional in court and attributed his behaviour to his “extreme need for affirmation” and being “known for being mamma’s son”.
The case has also renewed scrutiny of Norway’s royal family, which has faced criticism in recent years over revelations concerning Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Responding to questions earlier this year, she said she “didn’t know he was a sex offender or a predator”.
First Published:
June 14, 2026, 13:41 IST
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