Crown Princess’s Son Arrested Again in Norway

Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been arrested on charges of knife assault, just days before his trial for a separate rape case was set to begin. His trial is scheduled to commence in Oslo today, local time.

Norwegian authorities have remanded Høiby in custody for four weeks. The Oslo police stated that the 29-year-old was detained on Sunday evening for allegedly committing physical assault, threatening someone with a knife, and violating a court-issued restraining order. Officials cited a continued risk of reoffending as justification for the remand.

Høiby faces a total of 38 charges, including four cases of alleged rape, domestic violence against a former partner, and the illegal filming of several women without their consent. Despite the severity of these allegations, Høiby has denied all serious accusations, including those of sexual assault.

Key Details of Marius Borg Høiby:

Authorities are concerned that Høiby may commit further offences, prompting the police to request the four-week remand. The Oslo District Court has confirmed that he will remain in custody until either further prosecutorial instructions or court orders are issued. Andreas Krushevski, prosecutor for Oslo police, stated: “Marius Borg Høiby has been arrested for causing bodily harm, threatening with a knife, and breaching a restraining order.”

The timing of Høiby’s arrest coincides with renewed scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who has faced criticism over her association with the late American convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Publicly released documents mention the Crown Princess nearly a thousand times, indicating that she had contact with Epstein between 2011 and 2014.

In a statement issued last Saturday, the Crown Princess acknowledged her errors, saying: “These documents reflect my lapse in judgment. I deeply regret any contact with Epstein. It is profoundly embarrassing.”

Shazia Majid, a journalist with Norway’s leading tabloid VG, described the timing of the revelations as “the worst possible moment,” adding that there is widespread public anger and frustration. She noted that the monarchy is facing a severe crisis but expressed hope that King Harald V, Queen Sonja, and Crown Prince Haakon would retain public support.

Amid the scandal, the Norwegian Parliament is scheduled to vote on a proposal to abolish the monarchy and establish a republic. While the proposal is unlikely to pass, analysts suggest it may attract more support than in previous years. Craig Aan-Stokkel, leader of the “Norway as a Republic” group, commented: “The Epstein emails have shattered public confidence in the monarchy, and the royal family’s popularity has declined significantly.”

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stressed that those named in the documents must provide transparent accounts of the events. “The Crown Princess herself has admitted to making poor decisions, which I acknowledge,” he said. He added that being mentioned in the documents does not constitute proof of wrongdoing. The documents also name Norway’s former Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland, though he confirmed he never visited Epstein’s island.