Mette-Marit of Norway is facing a difficult personal period after her illegitimate son, Marius Borg Høiby, was sentenced to four years in prison for a series of serious criminal offenses, including rape.
A court in Oslo found Høiby guilty of assaulting his former partner, as well as multiple counts of rape and other crimes related to violence and drug possession. According to the ruling, some of the victims were asleep or otherwise unable to defend themselves, which was considered an aggravating circumstance.
The trial lasted around six weeks, during which the prosecution presented extensive evidence, including more than 800 messages and video materials, some of which were recorded by the defendant himself.
Høiby, 29, was accused of sexually assaulting four women between 2018 and 2024. He partially admitted to lesser offenses but denied the most serious charges, including rape.
Although he holds no royal title, Høiby has long been in the public spotlight due to his connection to the Norwegian royal family, following his mother’s marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001.
The case has drawn significant public attention in Norway, particularly due to the combination of family circumstances, the princess’s health issues, and the severity of the charges against her son.
