Norway Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son arrested over alleged assault forward of trial on rape costs

Oslo, Norway — The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess has been arrested, simply earlier than his trial opens on costs together with rape in a case that has been a humiliation to the royal household, police stated Monday.

Marius Borg Høiby was arrested Sunday night on new costs alleging assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order, police stated in a press release. They requested 4 weeks’ detention on the grounds of threat of reoffending. His attorneys could not instantly be reached for remark.

Høiby was already as a result of go on trial Tuesday on the Oslo district court docket. The indictment contains 38 counts, together with rape, abuse in a detailed relationship towards one former companion, acts of violence towards one other and transporting 7.7 kilos of marijuana. Different costs embody making demise threats and visitors violations.

Høiby has been below scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested in 2024 on varied allegations of wrongdoing. He was indicted in August however had been free pending trial till Sunday.

Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a earlier relationship. He’s the stepson of the inheritor to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon, however has no royal title or official duties himself.

The indictment facilities on 4 alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024; alleged violence and threats towards a former companion between the summer season of 2022 and the autumn of 2023; and two alleged acts of violence towards a subsequent companion, together with violations of a restraining order.

Høiby’s protection workforce has stated that he “denies all costs of sexual abuse, in addition to the vast majority of the fees relating to violence.”

Haakon stated final week that he and Mette-Marit do not plan to attend court docket and that the royal home would not intend to remark in the course of the proceedings.

He emphasised that Høiby is not a part of the royal home and that, as a citizen of Norway, he has the identical duties and rights as all others. He stated that he is assured that every one involved will make the trial as orderly, correct and truthful as attainable.

Whereas the royals are typically widespread in Norway, the Høiby case has forged a shadow on their picture. And the trial is opening simply as his mom faces renewed scrutiny over her contacts with Jeffrey Epstein.

Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit talked about in Epstein recordsdata

Friday’s launch of the most recent batch of paperwork from the Epstein recordsdata shone an unflattering highlight on Mette-Marit. They contained a number of hundred mentions of the crown princess, who already stated in 2019 that she regretted having had contact with Epstein, Norwegian media reported.

The newly launched paperwork, which embody e-mail exchanges with Epstein, confirmed that Mette-Marit borrowed a property of Epstein’s in Palm Seaside, Florida, for a number of days in early 2013, and the royal home confirmed that she did so by means of a mutual good friend, broadcaster NRK reported.

In a press release emailed by the royal home, Mette-Marit stated she, “should take accountability for not having investigated Epstein’s background extra completely, and for not realizing sooner what sort of particular person he was.”

“I deeply remorse this, and it’s a accountability I have to bear. I confirmed poor judgment and remorse having had any contact with Epstein in any respect,” she stated. “It’s merely embarrassing.”

She expressed her “deep sympathy and solidarity” with the victims of Epstein’s abuse.