Royal scandal: Trial opens for Norway crown princess’s son on sexual assault charges

• Norway Crown Princess’s son arrested again on assault, threats, and restraining order violations ahead of rape trial.
• Trial involves 38 charges including rape, domestic abuse, and drug offenses.
• Scandals compound with Crown Princess Mette-Marit's past links to Jeffrey Epstein.

The son of Norway’s crown princess pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to four counts of rape as his high-profile trial opened in Oslo, an AFP journalist in the courtroom reported.

Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was arrested by Norwegian police on Sunday evening, one day before the trial, on suspicion of assault, making threats with a knife and violating a restraining order. The latest arrest, his fourth since August 2024, has intensified scrutiny of the royal family.

Court Approves Detention

The Oslo district court approved police requests on Monday to detain Høiby for up to four weeks, citing the risk of further criminal acts. Authorities said the alleged offenses occurred over the weekend, adding to an indictment comprising 38 counts.

Charges include four allegations of rape from 2018 to November 2024, domestic abuse against a former partner, acts of violence against another individual, death threats, transportation of 3.5 kilograms of marijuana, and various traffic violations.

Legal Response

Høiby’s lawyer, Peter Sekulic, described the arrest as stemming from an alleged “incident” involving another person. He said Høiby contests the detention and that the legal team may appeal once statements from both parties are provided to police. With the trial beginning on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, authorities may not receive these statements until after a procedural pause over the weekend.

Royal Family Under Spotlight

The seven week trial represents a significant embarrassment for the Norwegian monarchy. Høiby holds no royal title or duties but has drawn repeated media attention for his legal troubles. Indicted in August 2025 after a prolonged investigation, he had remained free pending proceedings until this latest detention. The palace emphasized that the case concerns Høiby’s private life.

Epstein Revelations Add Pressure

The arrest comes amid fresh public scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit following the release of U.S. Justice Department files on Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, January 30. Her name appears nearly 1,000 times in the newly unsealed documents, revealing email exchanges between 2011 and 2014 in which she referred to Epstein as “very charming,” “soft-hearted,” and “such a sweetheart.”

The files reveal she stayed at Epstein’s Palm Beach home for four days in 2013, corresponded about personal matters, and sent him a thank-you note signed “Love, Mm” after receiving flowers while unwell. Some emails also suggest discussions of sensitive topics, including sexually explicit comments.

Mette-Marit acknowledged poor judgment in her interactions, issuing a statement: “I deeply regret having had any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing.” She expressed “deep sympathy and solidarity” with his victims and confirmed she ended contact in 2014 after suspecting he was trying to leverage their relationship.

Public Scrutiny Intensifies

Journalists and analysts say the timing of these revelations is “the worst possible” for the royal family. Shazia Majid, columnist for VG, described widespread anger and disappointment, noting the monarchy faces a “serious crisis.” Craig Aaen-Stockdale, leader of Norway as a Republic, said the emails “knocked a lot of people’s confidence in the monarchy” and diminished its popularity among the public.

The Norwegian parliament is due to vote Tuesday on whether to replace the monarchy, a ballot held every four years. While change is unlikely, support may be higher than in previous years. Questions about whether Mette-Marit can become queen have surfaced in national discourse.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that those mentioned in the files are expected to comment on the truth of the documents. “The crown princess herself has stated that she has shown poor judgment, which I agree with,” he said, emphasizing that inclusion in the files does not imply wrongdoing.