NORWAY'S PRINCE HAAKON'S STEP-SON, MARIUS BORG HØIBY, ACCUSED OF RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT

Oslo, Norway – Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been accused by Oslo police of several offenses including rape, sexual assault, and bodily harm. This follows an investigation involving a "two-digit" number of alleged victims.

Høiby, 28, who is the step-son of Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, was arrested multiple times in 2024 amid rape allegations and preliminary charges of physical assault and criminal damage.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Oslo police prosecutor Andreas Kruszewski confirmed that the investigation has concluded and charges have been filed. "I cannot go into further details about the number of victims in the case, other than to confirm that it is a two-digit number," the prosecutor stated.

Evidence was gathered from text messages, witness statements, and police searches. The charges include one count of rape with sexual intercourse, two counts of rape without sexual intercourse, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of bodily harm.

Høiby's defense attorney, Petar Sekulic, told The Associated Press that his client is "absolutely taking the accusations very seriously," but denies wrongdoing in most of the cases, particularly those concerning "sexual abuse and violence."

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The case has dominated headlines in Norway, where the royal family remains widely admired.

Høiby, who once resided with the royal couple and their children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, now lives independently nearby. He remains at large ahead of a possible trial and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit garnered public attention in 2001 when, already a single mother and partner of a man convicted of drug offenses, she married the Crown Prince of Norway.