Marius Borg Høiby trial puts Norway’s royals in a delicate spotlight

OSLO: Marius Borg Høiby, 29, will face seven weeks of court proceedings in Oslo starting Tuesday, in what is being described as Norway’s most high-profile criminal trial in recent memory.

The case, which includes charges of sexual assault, rape, and violence, has thrust the young man into an intense public and media glare – despite the royal palace’s insistence that he is not a public figure, BBC News reported on Sunday.

Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, is accused of 38 offenses ranging from the alleged rape of four women to assault, threats, property damage, drug offenses, and traffic violations. If convicted on the most serious charges, he could face over a decade behind bars.

The trial has been carefully staged to protect privacy: photographs are banned in and around Oslo District Court, and Høiby’s family, including Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon, will not attend. Still, the palace’s attempts to keep the family at arm’s length from the media circus highlight the difficult balance between private hardship and public curiosity.

Though not officially part of the royal family, Høiby has been a visible figure in Norway for nearly three decades, appearing alongside his mother and stepfather at key events. Royal insiders say his relationship with the crown prince, who has acted as a father figure, has been affectionate, yet complicated by Høiby’s undefined status within the royal household.

Journalists covering the case point to the added pressures this brings. “Marius is at the center of an extremely sensitive trial, and the public interest is amplified because of his royal connections,” said Torgeir Krokfjord, a Norwegian journalist who has documented Høiby’s struggles. “For the women involved, many of whom are ordinary citizens, the scrutiny will be intense.”

Høiby has admitted to some lesser offenses, such as physical altercations and property damage, but denies wrongdoing in the sexual assault and rape cases. One former girlfriend, social media influencer Nora Haukland, will testify as part of the indictment.

The trial comes at a particularly challenging time for the royal family. Crown Princess Mette-Marit is seriously ill with pulmonary fibrosis and preparing for a potential lung transplant, while King Harald V and Queen Sonja, both 88, will be absent due to travel commitments. Analysts say the palace is keen to limit its public involvement, both for the family’s privacy and to avoid fueling controversy.

Observers note that Høiby’s struggles with substance abuse and mental health have been longstanding, and were publicly acknowledged by his mother in a 2024 documentary on Norwegian public broadcaster NRK. “We have tried to do the best we can and sought professional help,” Mette-Marit said. “To be criticized in this situation feels unfair.”

Legal experts suggest the case will test Norway’s ability to separate an individual’s alleged crimes from the symbolic stature of the monarchy. Despite the trial, public support for the royal family remains strong; a recent poll indicated that 73% of Norwegians continue to back the institution.

 “The palace has long championed openness, but cases like this challenge that approach,” said royal correspondent Tove Taalesen. “Marius’s visibility as a stepchild of the crown prince has created a complicated dynamic: he’s both protected and scrutinized, caught between private struggle and public fascination.”

With testimony set to continue for weeks, the trial promises to be both a legal reckoning for Høiby and a delicate test of how Norway’s royal family navigates scandal in an age of intense media attention.