Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, was officially accused of 32 offenses, including multiple rape, abuse and violence in romantic relationships. After an investigation of one year after his initial arrest, the accusations were now presented, the highly publicized trial should start in mid-January 2026. The trial should last six weeks, and if he was convicted, Marius could incur up to ten years in prison.
The state prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø revealed the shocking details of the case at a press conference in Oslo. Among the accusations are the allegations of four rapes of different women, abuse, acts of violence, material damage, police harassment and traffic crimes. One of the rape incidents would have taken place last November, only three months after Marius’ first arrest, which had already caused an important scandal for the Norwegian monarchy.
“This case is very serious,” said Henriksbø. “Rape and violence in close relations are serious acts that can leave permanent scars and destroy lives.” He also pointed out that rapes occurred between 2018 and November 2024, the most recent occurring after the arrest of Marius.
According to the prosecutor, Marius attacked women after consensual relations, certain assaults occurred while the victims slept. These incidents, he said, have been documented in intimate recordings that provide key evidence against him. One of the incidents would have taken place in Skaugum, the residence of Prince Hakon and the Princess of the Couronne Mette-Marit, where Marius lives on the ground of the palace.
Marius denied the accusations and, despite the gravity of the accusations, will remain free until the trial because there is no reason for his arrest for the moment. His legal team has promised full cooperation with the investigation.
Following the announcement, the Royal House published a brief statement: “It is up to the courts to deal with this case and make a decision. We have nothing to add. “
Marius’ defense lawyer Peter Sekulic stressed the seriousness of the case, noting that Marius would continue to cooperate to clarify the situation.
