The royal family of Norway is experiencing an unusually tumultuous period as the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit is set to go on trial this week on multiple criminal charges, including rape, just as newly released documents have reignited the examination of the princess’s past connection with him.
The defendant, Marius Borg Høiby, is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday following an indictment handed down last summer after a long investigation. Høiby is not part of the royal household and has no official position.
Authorities questioned him several times in 2024 as the allegations grew, although he was not taken into custody while prosecutors were building their case.
Prosecutors accuse Høiby of committing crimes over a span of several years and engaging in violent and threatening behavior towards former partners. The alleged incidents range from 2018 through late 2024 and include accusations of violating a restraining order.
If convicted, the 29-year-old could face a prison sentence of up to 10 years. Court proceedings are expected to continue until mid-March.
After the indictment, defense attorney Petar Sekulic said his client denies and disputes most of the charges related to violence.
The case has been embarrassing for a monarchy that usually enjoys strong public support in Norway, attracting continuous media attention both at home and abroad.
That attention increased further last week with the release of a new batch of records linked to Epstein. The documents contain hundreds of mentions of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who has previously admitted and regretted her contact with Epstein.
The records, which include email correspondence, show that Mette-Marit stayed for several days in early 2013 at a property owned by Epstein – a visit that the royal household has stated was arranged through a mutual friend, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
In comments to The Associated Press, Mette-Marit said she did not adequately investigate Epstein’s background at the time and expressed regret over the association, calling it an embarrassing error in judgment. She also said she deeply sympathizes with the victims of.