Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, has been formally charged with 32 offenses, including multiple counts of rape, abuse, and violence in romantic relationships. Following a year-long investigation after his initial arrest, the charges have now been brought forward, with the high-profile trial set to begin in mid-January 2026. The trial is expected to last six weeks, and if found guilty, Marius could face up to ten years in prison.
State prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø revealed the shocking details of the case in a press conference in Oslo. Among the charges are allegations of four rapes of different women, abuse, acts of violence, property damage, harassment of police, and traffic offenses. One of the rape incidents reportedly took place last November, just three months after Marius’s first arrest, which had already caused significant scandal for the Norwegian monarchy.
“This case is very serious,” Henriksbø stated. “Rape and violence in close relationships are grave acts that can leave permanent scars and destroy lives.” He also highlighted that the rapes occurred between 2018 and November 2024, with the most recent one occurring after Marius had been arrested.
According to the prosecutor, Marius allegedly attacked the women after consensual relations, with some assaults happening while the victims were asleep. These incidents, he explained, were documented in intimate recordings that provide key evidence against him. One of the incidents is believed to have occurred at Skaugum, the residence of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, where Marius lives on the palace grounds.
Marius has denied the accusations and, despite the severity of the charges, will remain free until the trial as there is no grounds for his arrest at this time. His legal team has pledged full cooperation with the investigation.
Following the announcement, the Royal House issued a brief statement: “It is up to the courts to handle this matter and reach a decision. We have nothing further to add.”
Marius’s defense lawyer, Peter Sekulic, emphasized the seriousness of the case, noting that Marius would continue to cooperate to clarify the situation.
