Norway crown princess’ son arrested before rape trial

The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess was arrested just before his trial was due to begin on charges including rape in a case that has caused embarrassment for the royal family, police said.

In a statement made by police, it was stated that Marius Borg Hoiby was arrested on Sunday evening and charged with assault, threatening with a knife and violating a restraining order.

They requested four weeks’ detention due to the risk of re-offending.

On Tuesday, the 29-year-old is expected to stand trial in the Oslo district court.

The indictment includes 38 charges, including rape, harassment in an intimate relationship against one of the former partners, acts of violence against the other, and carrying 3.5 kilos of marijuana.

Other charges include making death threats and traffic violations.

Hoiby has been under scrutiny since his repeated arrests in 2024 for various alleged crimes.

However, he was released pending a hearing on Sunday.

Hoiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne.

He holds no royal title or official duties.

The indictment focuses on four allegations of rape between 2018 and November 2024; Allegations of violence and threats against a former partner between summer 2022 and autumn 2023; and two counts of alleged acts of violence against a subsequent partner, along with breach of a restraining order.

Hoiby’s defense team said he “denies all accusations of sexual abuse and most allegations of violence.”

with DPA