Norway’s Royal Family Faces Mounting Scandals as Crown Princess’s Son Arrested Before Rape Trial
A Royal Embarrassment Unfolds in Oslo
The Norwegian royal family finds itself at the center of an unfolding scandal that has captured the nation’s attention and cast a long shadow over the usually beloved monarchy. Marius Borg Høiby, the 27-year-old eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was arrested Sunday evening in Oslo, just hours before he was scheduled to stand trial on serious criminal charges including rape, assault, and drug-related offenses. The arrest came after police cited concerns about the risk of him reoffending, and they have requested that he be held in detention for four weeks. The case has become a source of profound embarrassment for Norway’s royal house, testing the limits of public support for the monarchy in a country where the royal family has traditionally enjoyed widespread popularity and affection from citizens.
Høiby, who is the Crown Princess’s son from a previous relationship and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, Norway’s heir to the throne, holds no royal title and performs no official duties. However, his connection to the royal family has made his legal troubles impossible to separate from the monarchy’s public image. The young man faces a staggering 38 counts in the indictment that will be presented when his trial begins at the Oslo district court. The charges paint a disturbing picture of alleged criminal behavior spanning several years, including multiple counts of rape, domestic violence against former partners, death threats, restraining order violations, and the transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. The severity and number of charges have shocked the Norwegian public and put enormous pressure on the royal family as they navigate this unprecedented crisis.
The Allegations and Legal Proceedings
The indictment against Høiby covers alleged crimes committed over a six-year period, from 2018 through November 2024, revealing a pattern of alleged abusive and violent behavior. At the heart of the case are four separate rape allegations spanning this timeframe, representing some of the most serious charges he faces. Beyond the sexual assault allegations, prosecutors have built a case that includes claims of sustained violence and threats against one former romantic partner between the summer of 2022 and fall of 2023, suggesting a pattern of domestic abuse. Additionally, he faces allegations of two separate acts of violence against another subsequent partner, along with multiple violations of restraining orders designed to protect his alleged victims.
The drug-related charges add another dimension to the case, with authorities accusing him of transporting a substantial quantity of marijuana—7.7 pounds, an amount that suggests potential distribution rather than personal use. Traffic violations and death threats round out the extensive list of charges. Høiby’s defense team has been clear in their position, stating that their client “denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence.” This carefully worded statement suggests he may admit to some of the lesser charges while maintaining his innocence on the most serious allegations. The arrest on Sunday evening marked a significant escalation in the case—while Høiby had been indicted back in August, he had remained free while awaiting trial. His repeated arrests throughout 2024 on various allegations had already placed him under intense public scrutiny, but the decision to detain him just before trial indicates prosecutors’ serious concerns about public safety and the integrity of the legal process.
The Royal Family’s Difficult Position
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit find themselves in an impossibly difficult position, torn between their roles as concerned parents and their duties as representatives of the Norwegian state. Last week, Crown Prince Haakon announced that neither he nor his wife would attend the court proceedings, a decision that reflects the delicate balance they must strike. The Crown Prince emphasized in his statement that Høiby is not part of the royal house and that, as a Norwegian citizen, he has the same legal responsibilities and rights as any other person in the country. This careful distancing serves multiple purposes—it reinforces the principle of equality before the law while also attempting to protect the institution of the monarchy from being too closely associated with the alleged crimes.
Haakon expressed confidence that all parties involved would ensure the trial proceeds in an orderly, proper, and fair manner, a statement that underscores the family’s respect for the legal process while also subtly appealing for measured judgment. The royal house has announced it will not comment during the proceedings, maintaining a dignified silence that is perhaps the only appropriate response given the circumstances. This approach mirrors how other European royal families have handled similar situations—maintaining enough distance to preserve the institution while acknowledging the human dimension of the crisis. The situation has undoubtedly taken a personal toll on the Crown Princess, who must reconcile her maternal instincts to support her son with the reality of the serious allegations against him and her responsibilities to the Norwegian people.
Compounding Controversies: The Epstein Connection
As if the timing couldn’t be worse for the Norwegian royal family, Crown Princess Mette-Marit faces renewed scrutiny over her past connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The release of additional documents from the Epstein files on Friday brought an unflattering spotlight back to contacts she had with Epstein years ago. The newly released materials contain several hundred mentions of the Crown Princess and include email exchanges that reveal she borrowed one of Epstein’s properties in Palm Beach, Florida, for several days in early 2013. The royal house confirmed this arrangement was made through a mutual friend, adding credibility to the documents while also raising questions about judgment and due diligence.
Mette-Marit had previously acknowledged in 2019 that she regretted having contact with Epstein, but the new revelations have reopened old wounds and intensified public criticism. In a statement released through the royal house, she took responsibility for her failure to more thoroughly investigate Epstein’s background and for not recognizing sooner what kind of person he was. “I deeply regret this, and it is a responsibility I must bear,” she stated. “I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing.” She also expressed deep sympathy and solidarity with Epstein’s victims, attempting to demonstrate both accountability and compassion. The timing of these revelations, coinciding with her son’s impending trial, creates a perfect storm of negative publicity that threatens to seriously damage the royal family’s standing with the Norwegian public.
Broader Challenges Facing Norway’s Monarchy
The troubles surrounding Marius Borg Høiby and Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s Epstein connections represent just the latest in a series of controversies that have challenged Norway’s royal family in recent years. Princess Märtha Louise, Crown Prince Haakon’s sister, has repeatedly drawn criticism for her unconventional business ventures, which some view as incompatible with royal dignity and potentially exploitative of her royal status. The situation reached a new level of public attention in 2024 when she married Durek Verrett, an American self-described shaman whose claims about alternative healing and spirituality have been met with skepticism and concern by many Norwegians.
These accumulating scandals present a significant test for the Norwegian monarchy, which has historically enjoyed strong public support but now faces questions about relevance, judgment, and whether certain family members are living up to the standards expected of those connected to the crown. The Norwegian public has traditionally viewed their royal family with affection and pride, seeing them as representatives of national values and continuity. However, the current wave of controversies forces citizens to reconsider that relationship and evaluate whether the monarchy continues to deserve the privileged position it holds in Norwegian society. For a modern constitutional monarchy to thrive, it requires not just legal legitimacy but also moral authority and public confidence—commodities that can be quickly eroded by scandal and poor judgment.
The Path Forward for Norway’s Royal House
As Marius Borg Høiby’s trial proceeds, the Norwegian royal family faces a critical period that will test both their personal resilience and the institution’s long-term viability. The legal process will unfold with the world watching, and the outcome—whatever it may be—will have lasting implications for how Norwegians view their royal family. If Høiby is convicted on the serious charges he faces, particularly the rape allegations, it will represent an unprecedented crisis for the modern Norwegian monarchy. Even if he is acquitted, the mere fact of the trial and the detailed public airing of the allegations will leave lasting damage to the family’s reputation.
The royal family’s response to this crisis will be carefully scrutinized. Their decision to maintain distance from the proceedings while respecting the legal process demonstrates wisdom, but they will also need to find ways to rebuild public trust once the immediate crisis passes. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit face the challenge of balancing their personal concern for a family member with their public responsibilities, all while dealing with their own separate controversies. The coming months will reveal whether Norway’s royal family can weather this storm and emerge with their standing intact, or whether these scandals represent a turning point that fundamentally alters the relationship between the monarchy and the Norwegian people. For now, the nation watches and waits as the legal process unfolds, hoping for justice for alleged victims while grappling with the uncomfortable reality that even those connected to royalty are capable of very human failures and potentially serious crimes.
