The eldest son of Norway's crown princess has been arrested on new charges, police authorities announced Monday, on the eve of his trial on charges including rape, in a case that has embarrassed the royal family.
Marius Borg Høiby was arrested Sunday evening and is accused of assault, making threats with a knife, and violating a protection order, according to a police statement. Norwegian media reported that the alleged offenses occurred over the weekend.
On Monday, the Oslo court accepted the request to keep the young man in custody for up to four weeks, citing a risk of recidivism.
Defense attorney Petar Sekulic told the Associated Press that the arrest followed a " incident " alleged incident involving another person on Sunday. He declined to give further details, but stated that Høiby was contesting his detention and that his legal team was considering an appeal as soon as he and the other person could provide their statements to the police.
With the trial starting on Tuesday, the police will not be able to hear these testimonies until this weekend, during a scheduled break in the proceedings, Sekulic added.
Multiple accusations in Oslo
On Tuesday, Høiby will face an indictment containing 38 charges in Oslo Magistrates' Court. These include rape, intimate partner violence against a former partner, violence against another partner, and the possession of 3,5 kilograms of marijuana. Other charges include making death threats and traffic violations.
Høiby has been under surveillance since several repeated arrests in 2024 on various charges. He was formally charged in August, but remained free pending his trial until Sunday.
He is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. He holds no royal title or official position.
The indictment focuses on four alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024, alleged violence and threats against a former partner between summer 2022 and fall 2023, as well as two alleged acts of violence against a subsequent partner, with violation of a protection order.
Høiby's defense team stated that the young man "denies all accusations of sexual violence, as well as the majority of accusations concerning physical violence."
The royal family is keeping its distance
Crown Prince Haakon said last week that he and Mette-Marit did not intend to attend the trial and that the royal household did not plan to comment on the proceedings, which are due to last until March 19.
He emphasized that Høiby is not a member of the royal family and that, as a Norwegian citizen, he possesses the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else. He expressed his confidence that all parties involved will ensure that the trial is conducted in an orderly, proper, and fair manner.
A case that tarnishes the image of the royal family
Although the royal family generally enjoys great popularity in Norway, the Høiby case has cast a shadow over its image. The trial comes as his mother, Mette-Marit, is once again under public scrutiny for her past ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The release last Friday of the latest batch of documents relating to Epstein brought to light several references to the Crown Princess. These documents notably reveal email exchanges and confirm that she borrowed one of Epstein's properties in Palm Beach, Florida, for a few days in early 2013, which she did through a mutual friend.
In a statement, Mette-Marit acknowledged: "I must take responsibility for not having examined Epstein's past more closely and for not having realized earlier what kind of person he was." She added: "I deeply regret this and it's a responsibility I must bear. I showed poor judgment and I regret having had any contact with Epstein. It's simply embarrassing."
She expressed her "deep sympathy and solidarity" towards the victims of Epstein's abuse.
Other sources of controversy
Mette-Marit's contacts with Epstein and the Høiby trial are not the only sources of criticism for the Norwegian royal family. The business activities of the Crown Prince's sister, Princess Märtha Louise, have also been frequently criticized. In 2024, at the same time the Høiby affair was making headlines, she married Durek Verrett, an American who presented himself as a shaman.
