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Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and
stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has been
under scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested in 2024 amid
allegations of rape and on preliminary charges of bodily harm
and criminal damage.
Oslo Police Attorney Andreas Kruszewski said that Høiby was
cooperative during police questioning, which is now complete.
Evidence in the case was drawn from sources including text
messages, witness testimonies and police searches, the police
attorney said.
The charges included one case of rape involving intercourse and
two cases of rape without intercourse, four cases of sexual
assault and two cases of bodily harm, Kruszewksi said at a news
conference.
“I cannot go into further detail about the number of victims in
the case beyond confirming that it is a double-digit number,” he
said.
Defense attorney Petar Sekulic, in an email to The Associated
Press, said Høiby was “absolutely taking the accusations very
seriously, but doesn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the
cases — especially the cases regarding sexual abuse and
violence.”
The royal palace said “the case is proceeding through the legal
system and is following normal procedures. We have nothing
further to add.”
The case was top news in Norway, where the royals are popular.
Høiby previously lived with the royal couple and their two
children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus,
but now lives in a separate house nearby, according to Sekulic.
Høiby remains free pending a possible trial and is entitled to a
presumption of innocence until a court rules otherwise.
Once known affectionately as “Little Marius,” Høiby grew up in
the public eye enjoying the same wealth and privilege as his
royal siblings, although his biological father, Morton Borg,
served time in prison for drugs and violent offenses. Hoiby has
acknowledged cocaine use and addiction.
Norway’s future queen made headlines in 2001 when she married
Haakon, because she was a single mother who had lived a
freewheeling life with a companion who had been convicted on
drug charges.
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