Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was sentenced on June 15, 2026, to four years in prison after Oslo District Court found him guilty of several charges, including two counts of rape. The verdict — delivered nearly three months after his six-week trial concluded — marks the end of one of the most closely watched legal proceedings involving a member of Norway’s royal family in recent memory.
Hoiby attended the verdict via video link rather than appearing in court physically, according to BBC. In addition to his prison sentence, he was handed a two-year restraining order protecting one of his victims, per The Guardian.
Who Is Marius Borg Hoiby and What Is His Connection to the Norwegian Royal Family?
Høiby is the son of Mette-Marit, who welcomed him during a previous relationship before she married Crown Prince Haakon, the future king of Norway, in 2001. Although Høiby grew up within the royal household as the stepson of Haakon, he does not hold a royal title and is not in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne. His half-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, are next in line.
What Was Marius Borg Hoiby Accused of in the Norway Royal Case?
Høiby faced a total of 38 charges, encompassing a wide range of alleged offenses. He was initially arrested for allegedly attacking a 20-year-old woman in 2024, and on August 18, 2025, he was formally charged with 32 counts, which included rape and sexual abuse. The charges also included six counts of filming people without their consent, six counts of sexually offensive conduct without consent, attacking a former partner and violating a restraining order, as well as drug and driving offenses.
The four rape allegations were alleged to have occurred between 2018 and 2024. His defense team told the outlet that he “denies all charges of sexual abuse, as well as the majority of the charges regarding violence.”
How the Marius Borg Hoiby Trial Unfolded in Oslo
Høiby’s trial began on February 3, 2026, in an Oslo court, days after he was arrested again on February 1, 2026, in connection with allegations of assault, making threats using a knife and violating a restraining order. On the first day of the trial, he pleaded not guilty to four rape charges as well as charges related to abuse and explicitly filming women without their consent, The Guardian reported.
He did plead guilty to a few lesser charges, including offensive sexual behavior, speeding and driving without a license, according to Reuters. He partially pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and reckless behavior.
The proceedings grew emotional on February 4, 2026, when Høiby was described as having had a breakdown in court while discussing his childhood, according to Reuters. The outlet also reported that he refuted allegations of having alleged rape-related videos on his phone. On February 5, 2026, prosecutor Sturla Henriksboe questioned Høiby about his phone’s search history, which showed he had searched the word “rape.” When asked whether he was interested in rape, Hoiby replied, “I have looked at a lot of weird stuff,” Reuters reported. He also denied accusations that he drugged one of his alleged rape victims.
Marius Borg Hoiby Sentencing and Verdict Details
Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad convicted Høiby of assaulting his former girlfriend Nora Haukland, who was the only victim publicly named in the case. Høiby was ordered to pay Haukland and three other women compensation, and he was acquitted of two other charges of rape, per The Guardian.
During the trial, prosecutors had argued that Høiby should be sentenced to seven years and seven months in prison, while his defense lawyers argued for only 18 months. The final sentence of four years fell between the two recommendations. Had he been convicted on all counts at the maximum level, Høiby could have faced up to 16 years in prison.
What Crown Prince Haakon Said About the Marius Borg Hoiby Case
Crown Prince Haakon issued a public statement on January 28, 2026, addressing the charges against his stepson. “Our thoughts are with everyone who is affected by this case. It has an impact on the individuals, their families and all those who care about them. We understand that this is a difficult time for many of you, and we sympathise,” Haakon said, according to People.
“At the same time, it is reassuring to know that we live in a state governed by the rule of law,” Haakon added. “I am confident that those responsible for overseeing the proceedings will ensure that the trial is conducted in as orderly, proper, and just a manner as possible.”
The royal family has also faced separate scrutiny during this period over Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s name appearing in newly released Jeffrey Epstein files from the U.S. Department of Justice, according to The Washington Post. The files reportedly showed she and Epstein exchanged messages and that she had stayed at his house on one occasion. Mette-Marit has publicly stated she has “deep regret” in connection with her alleged association with Epstein.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
