Marius Borg Høiby, the 27-year-old stepson of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been arrested on suspicion of rape, Oslo police confirmed.
Høiby, who has no royal title or official duties, was detained late on Monday, November 18, under a preliminary charge of engaging in sexual intercourse with someone who was “unconscious or otherwise unable to resist.” Authorities have not disclosed when the alleged incident occurred, stating only that the victim was unable to consent.
While Høiby has denied the accusations, Hege Salomon, the lawyer representing the alleged victim, described her client as being in a difficult emotional state. Salomon also noted that the case was initiated by the police, not the alleged victim, who remains unidentified.
The royal palace has declined to comment on the matter, according to Norwegian news agency NTB.
This is not Høiby’s first legal entanglement. In August, he was briefly detained in central Oslo following a disturbance and faced preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage. Since then, additional charges have been filed against him, including violating restraining orders and driving without a valid license. In total, his legal troubles involve allegations from four women and one man.
Høiby currently resides with the royal couple and their two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. His mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, made headlines herself in 2001 when she married Crown Prince Haakon despite controversy over her past as a single mother and her association with a former partner who had drug-related convictions.
The case has dominated headlines in Norway, where the royal family enjoys widespread popularity, adding to public interest and scrutiny.
