Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty on two counts of rape. The 29-year-old is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the Norwegian throne.
Charges and Verdict
Høiby faced 38 charges, including the rape of four women, assaulting and threatening a girlfriend, damaging her flat, drug offenses, and driving violations. The Oslo District Court cleared him of two other rape counts but convicted him on many other accusations. He appeared via video link for the verdict, as he was not present in court.
Appeal and Defense
His lawyers are expected to appeal the verdict, having argued for a sentence of just 18 months. The defense maintains that Høiby's actions do not warrant the lengthy prison term imposed by the court.
Royal Family's Position
The Norwegian royal family has repeatedly emphasized that Høiby is not a public figure, though his proximity to the monarchy has drawn international attention to the trial. He holds no royal title or official duties and is not in the line of royal succession.
Who Is Marius Borg Høiby?
Born on January 13, 1997, to Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Morten Borg, Høiby was not born into royalty. However, when his mother married Prince Haakon in 2001, he was thrust into the spotlight and is often considered a royal figure despite lacking official titles. He has no public role in the monarchy but has faced media scrutiny for years, including associations with gang members in 2023. A previous arrest for cocaine use at a music festival in 2017 also came to light after the assault allegations emerged.
Prince Haakon stated last week: 'Marius Borg Høiby is not part of the royal household. In that respect, he is independent. But of course we love him. He is an important part of our family. And he is a citizen of Norway. With that, he has the same responsibilities as everyone else, but also the same rights.'
