Norwegian Crown Princess’s Son Convicted of Two Rapes
Marius Borg Høiby, the 29‑year‑old son of Crown Princess Mette‑Marit, was found guilty of two counts of rape by the Oslo District Court and sentenced to four years in prison.
The court, sitting in courtroom 250, cleared him of two other rape accusations but confirmed convictions on several other offenses, including sexual assault on a woman in Oslo in 2024 and on a woman at the Skaugum estate in 2018. Prosecutors had urged a seven‑year term, whereas Høiby’s lawyers sought 18 months and announced an appeal will be filed.
Høiby, who did not attend the hearing in person due to unspecified health reasons, participated via video link. His attendance highlighted a clash between conviction and the cold realities of court proceedings.
The verdict has cast a shadow over the Norwegian royal family. Though Høiby is not a royal title bearer, his mother has been listed for a lung transplant, and palace officials declined to comment on the outcome more than acknowledging no further remarks will be issued until her transplant is complete.
The court’s decision was driven by video evidence captured by Høiby, which showed victims asleep or otherwise incapacitated during the alleged assaults. One victim, a 26‑year‑old influencer named Nora Haukland, was named in the judgment and ordered to receive compensation of 640,000 kroner from Høiby.
Outside the courtroom, defense counsel Petar Sekulic and Ellen Holager Andenæs visited Høiby at Ila prison to discuss the verdict and expressed mixed feelings about aspects of the judgment. They noted that while some charges were overturned, the convictions carried significant societal impact.
Analysts remark that the case reflects tensions within Norwegian society regarding the prosecution of sexual violence. Dr. Anja Emilie Kruse, a criminologist at the University of Oslo, noted that a single third of rape cases that reach court result in convictions, underscoring the high burden of proof required in such cases.
Public reaction has been sharp, with some commentators calling the case a turning point for the monarchy’s public image. The Crown Princess’s association with former sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has added a layer of controversy, though her health concerns currently dominate coverage.
Photo: LISE ASERUD/NTB/AFP
