Latest news with #Mette-Marit

Sky News AU
30-06-2025
- Sky News AU
'Double digit number of victims': Norwegian Prince Marius Borg Høiby charged with rape, assault and harassment following months-long investigation by Oslo Police
Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been charged with multiple counts of rape, sexual assault and bodily harm following a 10-month investigation by Oslo Police involving a "double-digit" number of alleged victims. The 28-year-old, who is also the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, was arrested three times last year, in August, September and November, before police laid formal charges on Friday. Authorities confirmed the case is now being handed over to prosecutors. "During the investigation, we have both received reports that have led to an investigation, and investigated cases that the police have come across in the investigation material along the way," Oslo Police said in a statement. Police attorney Andreas Kruszewski told reporters that Høiby had been questioned "several times during the autumn of 2024 and spring of 2025" and had cooperated with investigators. Kruszewski said evidence had been gathered from a range of sources, including text messages, witness statements and police searches. The charges include one count of rape involving intercourse, two counts of rape without intercourse, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of bodily harm. Høiby has also been charged with one count of abuse, one count of property damage, one count of issuing threats, five breaches of restraining orders, one count of harassing a police officer, and five traffic offences. "I cannot go into further detail about the number of victims in the case beyond confirming that it is a double-digit number," Kruszewski said. In a statement to the Associated Press, defence lawyer Petar Sekulic said Høiby "is absolutely taking the accusations very seriously, but doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases- especially the cases regarding sexual abuse and violence." The Norwegian Royal Family has declined to comment while legal proceedings are underway. In a statement to national newswire NTB, the palace said it would not offer remarks while the case moves through "normal procedures". Once known affectionately by the Norwegian public as "Little Marius", Høiby became a household name after his mother, Mette-Marit, married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001. His biological father, Morton Borg, previously served prison time for drug and violent offences. Mette-Marit has previously spoken openly about her checkered past, saying: "My youth rebellion was much stronger than many others. That resulted in me living quite a wild life." Now, the 51-year-old Crown Princess is one of the most popular royals in Europe and continues to enjoy strong public approval in Norway. Although Høiby was raised at the royal estate of Skaugum in Asker, west of Oslo, alongside his mother, stepfather, and half-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 19, he is believed to now live independently in a nearby residence. He remains free while awaiting a potential trial and, as per Norwegian law, is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.


International Business Times
28-06-2025
- International Business Times
Son of Norway's Crown Princess Charged with Raping, Sexually Assaulting Victims in 'Double-Digits'
Oslo police have formally charged Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, with multiple serious offenses, including rape, sexual assault, and bodily harm. The charges follow an extensive months-long investigation involving a "double-digit" number of alleged victims. Høiby, 28, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, has been under scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested in 2024 amid allegations of rape and on preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage. At a press conference on Friday, Oslo police attorney Andreas Kruszewski stated that Høiby had been cooperative throughout police interrogations, which have now concluded. Evidence in the case includes text messages, witness statements, and materials gathered during police searches. The charges laid out against Høiby include one count of rape involving intercourse, two counts of rape without intercourse, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of bodily harm. Kruszewski declined to provide an exact number of victims but confirmed it was in the double digits. Høiby's defense attorney, Petar Sekulic, told the Associated Press in an email that his client is "absolutely taking the accusations very seriously" but "doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases – especially the cases regarding sexual abuse and violence." The Norwegian Royal Palace has not yet issued a public comment in response to the charges. Høiby, who formerly resided with the royal couple and their two children, now lives in a separate residence nearby. He remains free while awaiting a possible trial and continues to be presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Straits Times
28-06-2025
- Straits Times
Son of Norway's crown princess suspected of 3 rapes
Marius Borg Hoiby (left) with his mother, Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, at a party in Oslo on June 16, 2022. PHOTO: EPA-EFE OSLO - The son of Norway's crown princess is suspected of three rapes and nearly two dozen other offences, Norwegian police said on June 27, handing the case to prosecutors to decide whether to press charges. Marius Borg Hoiby, who was born as a result of a relationship before Crown Princess Mette-Marit's marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, has been under investigation since his arrest on Aug 4 last year on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend. The arrest led to a slew of allegations against the 28-year-old that have shaken the royal family. Police attorney Andreas Kruszweski told reporters the 10-month investigation had been completed. Hoiby was suspected of 'one count of rape with sexual intercourse' and 'two counts of rape without sexual intercourse', Mr Kruszweski said. Hoiby's lawyer Ellen Holager Andenaes told news agency NTB her client rejected the three rape allegations. Hoiby has previously admitted to assault and vandalism in the August 2024 incident. In a public statement 10 days after his arrest, he said he had acted 'under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument', having suffered from 'mental troubles' and struggling 'for a long time with substance abuse'. Behind bars Police said Hoiby was also suspected of four counts of sexually offensive behaviour, one count of abuse in a close relationship, two counts of bodily harm, one count of vandalism, one count of issuing threats, five violations of restraining orders, one count of insulting a police officer, and five traffic offences. 'I cannot elaborate on the number of victims in the case other than to confirm that we are talking about a double-digit number,' Mr Kruszweski said. Hoiby, a tall strapping blond who cultivates a 'bad boy' look with slicked back hair, earrings, rings and tattoos, has been in the eye of a media storm since his arrest. When the rape allegations emerged in November, he spent a week behind bars in custody – unprecedented for a member of Norway's royal family. After his release, he reportedly went to rehab in London. Hoiby is the child of a brief romance between his mother and Morten Borg – who has also been convicted of abuse and drug-related crimes – at a time when the future princess was part of Norway's house music scene, known for its abundance of hash and ecstasy. Bad company Hoiby was propelled into the spotlight at the age of four when his mother married Norway's crown prince, with whom she went on to have two more children. He was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, aged 21 and 19. Unlike them, however, he has no official public role. Despite Mette-Marit's attempts to shield him from the public eye, he has made headlines over the years. 'He has been put in a virtually impossible position: one foot in, one foot out. He is not technically part of the royal household but he grew up in it,' said Sigrid Hvidsten, royals commentator at the newspaper Dagbladet. 'He has lived in a grey zone, a kind of gilded cage,' she told AFP in December 2024. A cage that has not stopped him from keeping bad company in recent years. According to media reports, he has hung out with gang members, Hells Angels bikers and members of Oslo's Albanian mafia. In 2023, police contacted him to have a cautionary talk after he was seen moving in the same circles as 'notorious criminals'. Once the assault scandal hit the headlines in August, it emerged that Hoiby had already been arrested in 2017 for using cocaine at a music festival. He has lived a comfortable lifestyle provided for by his mother and stepfather, and has shown little interest in academic studies or work. Several of his ex-girlfriends were among the plaintiffs in cases against him. His excesses have struck a blow to the monarchy, at least temporarily, though it remains popular, in particular King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon. A poll published in December by Norwegian broadcaster NRK showed 45 percent of people questioned said their opinion of the royal household had deteriorated over the past year. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Foreign royal family prince charged with multiple counts of rape
Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been charged with multiple rapes and sexual assaults by police in Oslo A prince in the Norwegian royal family has been charged with multiple rapes and sexual assaults after a months-long investigation with a 'double-digit' number of alleged victims. Oslo police have announced charges against Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. He has been under scrutiny since he was arrested in 2024 following allegations of rape. Oslo Police Attorney Andreas Kruszewski said Høiby was cooperative during police questioning, which is now complete. Evidence in the case was drawn from sources including text-messages, witness testimonies and police searches, the police attorney said. The charges included one case of rape involving intercourse and two cases of rape without intercourse, four cases of sexual assault and two cases of bodily harm, Kruszewksi said at a news conference. 'I cannot go into further detail about the number of victims in the case beyond confirming that it is a double-digit number,' he said. Defence attorney Petar Sekulic said Høiby was 'absolutely taking the accusations very seriously, but doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases — especially the cases regarding sexual abuse and violence'. Høiby, 28, previously lived with the royal couple and their two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, but now lives in a separate house nearby, according to Sekulic. Høiby remains free pending a possible trial and is entitled to a presumption of innocence until a court rules otherwise. Once known affectionately as 'Little Marius,' Høiby grew up in the public eye enjoying the same wealth and privilege as his royal siblings. Speaking last December, the Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 51, said it had been a "challenging year" for the Norwegian royal house, so much so that the family has sought "professional help", admitting that without that professional intervention, they would have been unable to fulfil their royal duties. Following the latest charges, the palace was quoted by the Norwegian newswire NTB saying it would not comment while the case winds its way through the 'normal procedures.'


eNCA
27-06-2025
- eNCA
Son of Norway princess suspected of three rapes
OSLO - The son of Norway's crown princess is suspected of three rapes and nearly two dozen other offences, Norwegian police said Friday, handing the case to prosecutors to decide whether to press charges. Marius Borg Hoiby, who was born as a result of a relationship before Crown Princess Mette-Marit's marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, has been under investigation since his arrest on August 4 last year on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend. The arrest led to a slew of allegations against the 28-year-old that have shaken the royal family. Police attorney Andreas Kruszweski told reporters the 10-month investigation had been completed. Hoiby was suspected of "one count of rape with sexual intercourse" and "two counts of rape without sexual intercourse", Kruszweski said. Hoiby's lawyer Ellen Holager Andenaes told news agency NTB her client rejected the three rape allegations. Hoiby has previously admitted to assault and vandalism in the August 2024 incident. In a public statement 10 days after his arrest, he said he had acted "under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument", having suffered from "mental troubles" and struggling "for a long time with substance abuse". - Behind bars - Police said Hoiby was also suspected of four counts of sexually offensive behaviour, one count of abuse in a close relationship, two counts of bodily harm, one count of vandalism, one count of issuing threats, five violations of restraining orders, one count of insulting a police officer, and five traffic offences. "I cannot elaborate on the number of victims in the case other than to confirm that we are talking about a double-digit number," Kruszweski said. Hoiby, a tall strapping blond who cultivates a "bad boy" look with slicked back hair, earrings, rings and tattoos, has been in the eye of a media storm since his arrest. When the rape allegations emerged in November, he spent a week behind bars in custody unprecedented for a member of Norway's royal family. After his release, he reportedly went to rehab in London. Hoiby is the child of a brief romance between his mother and Morten Borg who has also been convicted of abuse and drug-related crimes at a time when the future princess was part of Norway's house music scene, known for its abundance of hash and ecstasy. - Bad company - Hoiby was propelled into the spotlight at the age of four when his mother married Norway's crown prince, with whom she went on to have two more children. He was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, aged 21 and 19. Unlike them, however, he has no official public role. Despite Mette-Marit's attempts to shield him from the public eye, he has made headlines over the years. "He has been put in a virtually impossible position: one foot in, one foot out. He is not technically part of the royal household but he grew up in it," said Sigrid Hvidsten, royals commentator at the newspaper Dagbladet. "He has lived in a grey zone, a kind of gilded cage," she told AFP in December 2024. A cage that has not stopped him from keeping bad company in recent years. According to media reports, he has hung out with gang members, Hells Angels bikers and members of Oslo's Albanian mafia. In 2023, police contacted him to have a cautionary talk after he was seen moving in the same circles as "notorious criminals". Once the assault scandal hit the headlines in August, it emerged that Hoiby had already been arrested in 2017 for using cocaine at a music festival. He has lived a comfortable lifestyle provided for by his mother and stepfather, and has shown little interest in academic studies or work. Several of his ex-girlfriends were among the plaintiffs in cases against him. His excesses have struck a blow to the monarchy, at least temporarily, though it remains popular, in particular King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon. A poll published in December by Norwegian broadcaster NRK showed 45% of people questioned said their opinion of the royal household had deteriorated over the past year.