Who is Marius Borg Høiby, the Norwegian princess’s son facing 23 criminal charges including rape?

Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, is under investigation for 23 criminal offences, including three counts of rape. Norwegian police revealed the charges on Friday, following a 10-month probe that began with his arrest in August 2024.

Who is Marius Borg Høiby?

Born in 1997, Marius Borg Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her former partner. While he grew up in the royal household alongside his half-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, he holds no official royal title and is not in line for the throne, despite a previous erroneous report by The Guardian calling him the heir apparent.

Until recently, he lived near the Crown Prince family at the Skaugum estate in Asker. However, following the initial allegations, Høiby was reportedly forced to relocate to a nearby house on the edge of the forest.


His August 2024 arrest followed a nighttime altercation at a woman’s apartment in Oslo, where he was accused of physical assault. According to Norwegian media, police found a knife embedded in a bedroom wall at the scene.

The case has shaken public perception of the extended royal family and could have further implications depending on how the legal proceedings unfold.

Accused of Multiple Offences, Including Rape and Domestic Abuse
According to Norwegian police, Høiby is accused of rape involving victims who were “unconscious or otherwise unable to resist,” as reported by the BBC. The charges stem from multiple incidents involving at least five women, including his former partners Julianne Snekkestad and Nora Haukland. Høiby has denied the rape allegations.

Other charges include domestic violence, threats, criminal damage, and violating a restraining order. In one incident, he was found with another alleged victim inside a car at the time of his arrest. He is also accused of threatening a man and driving without a valid license.

As part of the investigation, police searched his home near the Skaugum estate, the official residence of the Crown Prince and Princess.

Silence from the Royal Family

The Norwegian royal family has remained silent on the case. The palace has not commented publicly since his initial arrest and has maintained that stance following the latest revelations.

Authorities confirmed they have completed their investigation but did not disclose when the case might go to court.