Son of Norway's Crown Princess Denies Rape Videos in Trial
Marius Borg Høiby told Oslo court he does not remember taking videos allegedly showing him sexually assaulting a woman in Dec. 2018.
Overview
Marius Borg Høiby told Oslo district court he does not remember taking videos and photos prosecutors allege show him sexually assaulting a woman at Skaugum, while he denied rape and said the sex was consensual.
Prosecutors allege Høiby committed 38 crimes, including four rapes and multiple assaults, and his trial has intensified scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein after a large release of documents.
The crown prince said in a statement that he and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will not attend or comment during the trial, and the Royal Court said she postponed a planned private trip, officials confirmed.
Court records show police recovered four films and 10 photos time-stamped between 7:12 a.m. and 7:17 a.m. in Dec. 2018 that prosecutors say were taken at the afterparty in Skaugum's basement.
The trial is scheduled to run until March 19, and judges will hear further testimony as prosecutors seek convictions that carry up to 16 years in prison if Høiby is found guilty, court schedules show.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a scandal that broadens from a criminal trial into a reputational crisis for Norway’s royals, using loaded descriptors (e.g., “freewheeling,” “embarrassing”), selective context (salacious Epstein email excerpts), and audience-impact elements (poll declines, personal reactions) to emphasize institutional fallout over neutral case reporting.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Marius Borg Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon. He has no royal title or official duties.
He faces 38 charges, including four counts of rape, assaults, drug trafficking (transporting 3.5 kg of cannabis), death threats, traffic violations, and violations of restraining orders.
Høiby told the Oslo court he does not remember taking the videos and photos, denied rape, and stated the sex was consensual.
Convictions could carry up to 16 years in prison.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit stated they will not attend or comment during the trial, and she postponed a planned private trip.
History
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