Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to four counts of rape at the opening of a trial that has sent shockwaves through the royal family.
Hoiby, from a relationship predating Mette-Marit’s 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, appeared in Oslo court dressed in green trousers and a sweater, remaining expressionless as prosecutors read out 38 charges against him. He faces up to 16 years in prison if convicted of the most serious counts.
The 29-year-old admitted guilt to several lesser charges, including assaults, narcotics offenses, traffic violations, and breaches of restraining orders. He was re-arrested Sunday on suspicion of assault, making threats with a knife, and violating a restraining order, and has been remanded in custody for four weeks.
Prosecutors detailed the alleged rapes and assaults, claiming the attacks occurred after consensual sex, often when the women were incapacitated by alcohol. One alleged incident reportedly took place in 2023 while Hoiby was on holiday in the Lofoten Islands with his royal stepfather.
The defense argued that Hoiby perceived all sexual encounters as consensual, emphasizing the toll the allegations and intense media scrutiny have had on his mental health. “The judgment must be handed down in this courtroom, nowhere else,” lawyer Ellen Holager Andenaes told the court.
One alleged victim testified under strict media restrictions on Tuesday, while Hoiby is scheduled to take the stand on Wednesday.
The case has added to scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, following revelations of her friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Neither Crown Prince Haakon nor Mette-Marit are expected to attend the trial.
Hoiby was first arrested on August 4, 2024, for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. In subsequent months, additional ex-girlfriends came forward, alleging physical and psychological abuse. Police investigations later uncovered alleged rapes of four women between 2018 and 2024, some of which were reportedly recorded. In January, authorities added six more charges, including a 2020 narcotics offense involving nearly eight pounds of marijuana.
The identities of the seven alleged victims are largely protected, except for Hoiby’s ex-girlfriend Nora Haukland, who has publicly accused him of repeated abuse. Prosecutors detailed multiple violent attacks on Haukland during 2022-2023, including punches, kicks, and strangulation.
Royal experts describe the scandal as the most serious in modern Norwegian history. Although the monarchy retains overall popularity, a TV2 poll suggests that over 70 percent of Norwegians believe recent scandals have weakened the institution.
The trial runs until March 19, with a verdict expected several weeks later. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, suffers from an incurable lung disease and may require a high-risk lung transplant in the future.