OSLO, Norway (BN24) — The son of Norway’s crown princess is suspected of committing three rapes and more than 20 other offences, Norwegian authorities announced Friday, marking the latest development in a sprawling investigation that has gripped the Scandinavian nation.
Marius Borg Høiby, 28, who is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon and does not hold a royal title or official duties, was arrested three times last year — in August, September and November — amid allegations ranging from sexual assault to bodily harm.
After a 10-month inquiry, police in Oslo have turned the case over to prosecutors, who will determine whether to file formal charges, police attorney Andreas Kruszewski said.
Høiby’s lawyer, Petar Sekulic, said his client “takes the accusations very seriously” but denies any wrongdoing in most of the alleged incidents, especially those involving sexual violence.
The police investigation began after Høiby was detained on August 4, 2024, on suspicion of assault. Authorities said the inquiry had involved “a large number of witness interviews, several searches and a review of extensive digital material.” Høiby was questioned multiple times over the autumn of 2024 and the spring of this year and “cooperated with the police,” the Oslo Police District said in a statement.
Among the suspected offences are four counts of sexually offensive behavior, one count of abuse in a close relationship and two counts of bodily harm.
Kruszewski confirmed that some allegations of sexual offenses were dropped because of the statute of limitations and insufficient evidence. He declined to provide the exact number of alleged victims but said it was in the “double digits.”
Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has largely stayed out of the public eye compared to other members of Norway’s royal family.
The Royal House of Norway acknowledged the case in a brief statement, noting that the matter was moving through the legal system and declining to comment further.
