13 - International Hard or Feature News

Hannah Diffee

Professor Reppert

Reporting and Writing for the Mass Media

Fall 2024

13 - International Hard or Feature News

Son of Norwegian crown princess arrested on suspicion of rape

Norway's royal family has found itself in another scandal amidst the arrest of the crown princess's son. 27-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was arrested Monday evening on a preliminary charge of performing sexual acts "with someone who [was] unconscious or for other reasons unable to resist." Details are currently unclear, but the victim, a woman in her 20s, did not know Høiby before the day of the alleged incident, according to a statement from her lawyer. 

These charges come just months after Borg Høiby was arrested on allegations of bodily harm and property damage following an incident with his girlfriend. In August, while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, he caused harm to the woman and vandalized her apartment. He issued an apology following the incident.

"Last weekend something happened that should never have happened. I committed bodily harm and destroyed objects in an apartment in the intoxication of alcohol and cocaine after an argument. I have several mental disorders which mean that throughout my upbringing and adult life, I have had, and still have, challenges. I have struggled with substance abuse for a long time, something I have been in treatment for in the past. I will now resume this treatment and take it very seriously."

"The drug use and my diagnoses do not excuse what happened in the apartment at Frogner on the night of Sunday last weekend. I want to be responsible for what I have done, and will explain myself truthfully to the police".

- Marius Borg Høiby 

During the investigation, officers discovered a knife in the wall of the woman's apartment.

He has now been charged with various offenses against six people: three ex-girlfriends, two unknown women, and one man (NRK). These charges include two alleged rapes and one alleged murder threat. He denies all criminal guilt, excluding the August case. 

Borg Høiby is Mette-Marit's son from a previous marriage; therefore, he has no royal title or official duties. He was four years old when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the Norwegian throne, in 2001. He resides with the royal couple and his half-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

Crown Prince Hakaan spoke about the arrest of his stepson on Wednesday, stating that he trusts the police and judiciary to do their jobs well. 

"We as a family and as parents have, of course, been very concerned that Marius should get help."

Above: The Norwegian Royal Family