OSLO — Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, has been found guilty of two counts of rape and sentenced to four years in prison, in a case that has shaken the royal family and sparked widespread debate across the country.
The verdict was delivered Monday at Oslo District Court, where three judges cleared Høiby of two other rape charges but convicted him of raping two women, one at the Crown Prince’s estate at Skaugum in 2018 and another in Oslo in 2024. He was also convicted of abusing his ex-girlfriend, Norwegian influencer Nora Haukland, and reckless behavior toward another woman.
Høiby, who denied all charges, appeared via video link rather than in person. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of seven years and seven months, while his defense argued for 18 months. His lawyers said they plan to appeal. The court ordered Høiby to pay 640,000 kroner ($50,000) in compensation to four women, including Haukland, the only victim judges ruled could be publicly named.
On social media, the verdict drew sharp responses. Many expressed sympathy for Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is battling pulmonary fibrosis and has recently been placed on a lung transplant list. Others voiced anger at the leniency of the sentence compared to the prosecution’s request, with one user writing, “Four years for two rapes is not justice.” Advocacy groups highlighted the case as a reminder of how sexual assault survivors often face long battles for recognition in court.
Legal experts in Norway said the case underscored the challenges of prosecuting sexual assault when victims are incapacitated or asleep. “The court’s reliance on video evidence was decisive,” said one Oslo-based lawyer, noting that such cases often hinge on credibility and consent.
Authorities emphasized that Høiby, while raised within the royal household, is not a member of the royal family and holds no title. The palace issued a brief statement acknowledging the verdict but declined further comment, citing respect for the judicial process.
The case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile sexual assault trials involving figures connected to public life. In Sweden, Jean-Claude Arnault, linked to the Nobel Academy, was convicted of rape in 2018, sparking a cultural reckoning. In the United Kingdom, former pop star Ian Watkins was sentenced to 29 years for sexual offenses in 2013. Advocates say these cases underscore how influence or proximity to power does not shield perpetrators from accountability.
Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad summarized the court’s findings in a 128-page ruling, stating that the victims were incapacitated and unable to resist. One woman testified she was asleep when Høiby filmed her without consent after a party in Oslo in 2024. The court agreed she could not have consented.
Høiby was acquitted of two other rape charges involving women he met at a hotel in Oslo and while on holiday in the Lofoten islands. The case involved six women in total, though only one attended court for the verdict. Defense lawyer Petar Sekulic again asked for Høiby’s release so he could spend time with his mother, citing her declining health. The court has yet to rule on that request.
