Sentencing

Marius Borg Høiby Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

Eighty-eight days have passed since the end of the trial on March 19—now Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad has announced the verdict.(Bild: Krone-Collage/AFP/OLE BERG-RUSTEN, AFP/HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN)

The verdict is in: Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been sentenced to four years in prison. Of a total of 40 charges, the court found him guilty on 34 counts. Both the prosecution and the defense have two weeks to appeal the verdict.

For health reasons, Høiby followed the sentencing via video link from prison.

District Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad read the verdict shortly after 8:30 a.m. at the Oslo courthouse. The sentence covers 34 offenses, including two counts of rape and drug offenses. The court acquitted him of two rape charges. In addition, Høiby was ordered to pay damages to the victims. At the center of the trial was the question of whether the alleged victims were even capable of effectively consenting to a sexual act given their condition.

Eighty-eight days have passed since the trial concluded on March 19—now Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad has announced the verdict.(Bild: Krone-Collage/AFP/OLE BERG-RUSTEN, AFP/HAKON MOSVOLD LARSEN)

Serious allegationsagainst Høiby From February to March, Høiby stood trial on 40 charges, including the alleged rape of four women between 2018 and 2024 who were asleep or unconscious at the time of the offenses.

Prior to the rapes, Høiby had consumed alcohol and drugs. The 29-year-old was also charged with physically and psychologically abusing several ex-girlfriends.

The list of charges against Marius Borg Høiby was long: it ranged from violence and threats to serious sexual offenses and violations of court orders.(Bild: AP/Heiko Junge)

The prosecution had sought a sentence of seven years and seven months in prison for Høiby. His defense attorney, however, sought an acquittal on the most serious charges. Høiby had rejected the charges carrying the most severe penalties but pleaded guilty to the less serious counts. He may appeal the verdict.

Høiby is Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon in 2001. He is not formally a member of the royal family.

Victim’s attorney John Christian Elden (left) and Høiby’s attorney Ellen Holager Andenæs in court before the verdict was handed down in the trial against Marius Borg Høiby(Bild: AP/Stian Lysberg Solum)

Defense attorneys Petar Sekulic and Ellen Holager Andenæs in front of the courthouse in Oslo(Bild: AP/Jonas Been Henriksen)

Mother terminally ill
The defendant’s months-long pretrial detention was overshadowed by a dramatic turn of events in his personal life: The emotional strain of the trial on the entire royal family was compounded by the serious illness of his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

Mette-Marit recently made public appearances while on a ventilator.(Bild: Viennareport)

The 52-year-old has been battling chronic pulmonary fibrosis for years, but her condition deteriorated rapidly during her eldest son’s detention.

Marius and his mother Mette-Marit(Bild: APA-Images / NTB / Lise Aaserud)

As was recently revealed, Høiby was even allowed to leave pretrial detention briefly after more than four months for a temporary release to attend an urgent medical consultation at the royal residence, Gut Skaugum, regarding the Crown Princess’s critical health condition.

Høiby is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from her previous relationship with the Norwegian Morten Borg. When he was four years old, his mother married Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.(Bild: Viennareport)

Waiting List for a New Lung
The existential gravity of the royal illness became abundantly clear just ten days before the verdict was announced, when Mette-Marit was officially placed on the waiting list for a lung transplant.

According to the attending physicians, this step is tied to a strict condition: only patients whose life expectancy without a new organ is one year or less are accepted. While Norway now watches with bated breath for the legal consequences for the “bonus prince,” the country is simultaneously fearing for the survival of its future queen.