Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son arrested for alleged assault ahead of trial on rape charges

Oslo, Norway – The eldest son of the Norwegian princess has been arrested just before the start of her trial on allegations including rape. Police said on Monday that this is a case which has been an embarrassment to the royal family.

Marius Borg Hoiby was arrested Sunday evening on new charges of assault, threatening with a knife and violating a restraining order, police said in a statement. He requested four weeks’ custody on the grounds of risk of re-offending. His lawyers could not immediately be reached for comment.

Hoibi was due to stand trial in Oslo District Court on Tuesday. The indictment includes 38 counts, including rape, abuse in an intimate relationship against a former partner, acts of violence against another and the the transportation of 7.7 pounds of marijuana. Other charges include making death threats and traffic violations.

Hoebi has been under investigation after being repeatedly arrested on various allegations of wrongdoing in 2024. He was convicted in August but freed pending trial on Sunday.

is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship. He is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne, but has no royal title or official duties.

The indictment focuses on four alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024; alleged violence and threats against a former partner between summer 2022 and autumn 2023; and violation of a restraining order as well as two alleged acts of violence against the latter’s partner.

Hoeby’s defence team has stated that he “denies all allegations of sexual abuse, as well as most of the allegations related to violence.”

Haakon said last week that he and Mette-Marit did not plan to appear in court and that the royal house had no intention of commenting during the proceedings.

He stressed that Høiby is not part of the royal household and, as a citizen of Norway, has the same responsibilities and rights as everyone else. He said he was confident that all the parties concerned would make the hearing as orderly, fair, and impartial as possible.

While the royals are generally popular in Norway, the Hoiby case has cast a shadow over their image. And the trial begins just as her mother faces renewed scrutiny over her contacts with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Epstein files mention Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.

Friday’s latest batch of documents from the Epstein files was released. An unflattering spotlight shone on Mette-Marit. Norwegian media reported that they contained several hundred mentions of the Crown Princess, who had already said in 2019 that she regretted having contact with Epstein.

Newly released documents, which include email exchanges with Epstein, revealed that Mette-Marit borrowed one of Epstein’s properties in Palm Beach, Florida, for several days in early 2013, and the royal house confirmed she did so through a mutual friend, broadcaster NRK reported.

In a statement emailed by the royal household, Mette-Marit said, “She must take responsibility for not investigating Epstein’s background more thoroughly and for not realising sooner what kind of person he was.”

He said, “I deeply regret it, and it is a responsibility I must live up to. I used poor judgement and regret having any contact with Epstein.” “It’s absolutely shameful.”

He expressed his “deepest sympathy and solidarity” with the victims of Epstein’s abuse.