Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norway's princess, guilty on two rape counts, gets 4 years

The verdict

Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Norway's Princess Mette-Marit, was found guilty on two counts of rape by the Oslo District Court on Monday. He was sentenced to four years in prison and issued a two-year restraining order against one victim. The court acquitted him on two additional rape charges, citing insufficient evidence. Høiby, who has no royal title but is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, did not attend the hearing in person, instead watching via video link. The verdict followed a lengthy trial that drew intense public interest.

The trial and the evidence

The trial, which began on February 3, lasted six months and involved around 40 charges, including physical assault, restraining order violations, drug offenses, and driving violations. Prosecutors said the rapes occurred against four different women between 2018 and 2024, often while they were asleep or incapacitated. Evidence presented included messages, photos, and videos from Høiby's phone. The court found him guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Nora Haukland, the only victim publicly named. Høiby admitted to some lesser offenses but denied all rape allegations. The case was closely watched, with the crown prince and princess keeping their distance from the courtroom.

Fallout for the royal family

The conviction has placed further strain on a monarchy already facing challenges. Princess Mette-Marit, 52, suffers from pulmonary fibrosis and is on a waiting list for a lung transplant. Her condition worsened significantly during the trial. The royal household has also been grappling with revelations about Mette-Marit's past contacts with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she has publicly apologized. Public support for the monarchy has fallen below 70% for the first time, according to recent polls cited by Norwegian media.

Sentencing demands and appeal

Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of seven years and seven months, while the defense argued Høiby should be acquitted of the rapes and given no more than 18 months for the offenses he admitted.

The three-judge panel settled on four years. Høiby retains the right to appeal, and his legal team has indicated they may do so. Last week, an attempt to release him temporarily so he could spend time with his ailing mother was blocked by an appeals court.