Oslo’s district court has become the epicenter of Norway’s most significant criminal proceeding in recent memory as Marius Borg Høiby, stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, stands trial facing 38 criminal charges. The seven-week trial, which commenced Tuesday, involves allegations spanning multiple years and includes four counts of rape, physical assault, threats against a former girlfriend, property damage, drug offenses, and driving violations.
The 29-year-old, whose mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit married into royalty when he was four, appears without family support in the courtroom. The palace has emphatically distanced itself from the proceedings, emphasizing Høiby’s non-royal status despite his lifelong connection to the monarchy. Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit are notably absent, with the latter battling serious pulmonary fibrosis that requires potential lung transplantation.
Prosecutors detail disturbing allegations dating from 2018 to November 2024, including sexual assaults occurring while women were incapacitated or asleep—acts legally constituting rape under Norwegian law. One identified accuser, social influencer Nora Haukland, alleges violent physical abuse including punching, kicking, and choking alongside verbal degradation.
Høiby’s defense counsel Petar Sekulic acknowledges his client takes the accusations seriously while maintaining innocence regarding most charges, particularly those involving sexual violence. The defense also contests a recent addition of marijuana transportation charges involving 3.5 kilograms of the substance.
The trial unfolds against a backdrop of royal scandals, including Princess Märtha Louise’s controversial marriage to an American shaman and revelations about Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Despite these challenges, recent polling indicates 73% of Norwegians still support the monarchy, with many apparently distinguishing between the institution and individual family members’ actions.
As testimony begins from multiple women whose intimate experiences will be scrutinized before international media, the case represents both a personal tragedy for the victims and an unprecedented challenge for Europe’s most accessible monarchy.