Norwegian Crown Princess's Son Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted on two counts of rape and several other criminal offenses by Oslo District Court.

The court found Høiby guilty of raping two women, including one incident that took place on the Skaugum royal estate in 2018 and another involving a woman in Oslo in 2024. 

However, judges acquitted him of two additional rape charges after concluding there was insufficient evidence to secure convictions in those cases.

Prosecutors had sought a prison sentence of seven years and seven months, while Høiby's defense team argued for a substantially shorter sentence of 18 months. His lawyers confirmed that he intends to appeal the verdict.

Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad delivered the ruling following a lengthy trial involving allegations from six women. According to the court, both rape convictions involved victims who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist at the time of the assaults.

The judges also convicted Høiby of multiple additional offenses, including abuse of former girlfriend and influencer Nora Haukland, as well as causing serious bodily harm to another former partner. 

He was ordered to pay a total of 640,000 Norwegian kroner in compensation to four of the women involved in the case.

Høiby was not physically present in court during the verdict because of unspecified health reasons but participated through a video link. 

Following the ruling, his lawyers requested his release from custody, arguing that he should be allowed to spend time with his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and is currently on a lung transplant waiting list. 

The court rejected the request, citing concerns that he could violate restrictions involving one of the victims.

Although Høiby is not a member of the Norwegian royal family, the case has generated significant attention because he was raised within the royal household after Crown Princess Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon. 

The Norwegian Royal Palace declined to comment on the verdict, stating that the matter had been decided by the courts.

The case has fueled broader debate in Norway regarding the handling of sexual assault cases and conviction rates in rape trials. 

Legal experts and researchers have pointed to the challenges faced by victims seeking justice, noting that many reported cases never reach trial.

The conviction marks one of the most serious legal cases ever linked to Norway's royal circle and is expected to continue drawing public attention as the appeals process moves forward.