Norway's future king addresses his stepson’s 32 charges, including four counts of rape for the first time
Norway's future king, Crown Prince Haakon, has spoken out after his stepson was charged with rape, domestic violence, assault and other crimes.
Marius Borg Høiby, 28, is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson to Crown Prince Haakon.
He has been charged with 32 criminal offences including one count of rape with sexual intercourse and three counts of rape without intercourse, some of which the prosecution has said he filmed on his phone.
Other charges include domestic abuse, violence, disturbing the peace, vandalism and violation of restraining orders against a former partner.
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These four instances of rape for which Høiby is charged allegedly took place in 2018, 2023, and 2024, with the last one after the police investigation began.
"The maximum penalty for the offences listed in the indictment is imprisonment of up to 10 years," public prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo told reporters.
"These are very serious acts that can leave lasting scars and destroy lives.
"The fact that Marius Borg Hoiby is a member of the royal family should, of course, not mean that he should be treated more lightly or more severely than if similar acts had been committed by others."
Following the charges, according to Reuters, Crown Prince Haakon said the family would do their best to carry out duties as normal.
"We will continue to carry out our duties as best we can, as we always do," he said.
"Everyone involved in this case probably finds it challenging and difficult."
Reuters claim that Høiby's attorney has said that his client will plead guilty to some charges but disputes the most serious crimes.
"He does not agree with the claims regarding rape and domestic violence," Petar Sekulic said.
In a public statement 10 days after his arrest, Høiby claimed he had acted 'under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument', having suffered from 'mental troubles' and struggling 'for a long time with substance abuse'.
Meanwhile, in December last year, Crown Princess Mette-Marit spoke about the difficulties the family had faced.
“It has been a demanding year and a demanding autumn for us,” she added, explaining that they had been seeking 'professional help'.
“I don’t think we would have been able to be in a situation like this without having that help, together as a family, and at the same time fulfill our obligations to the Norwegian people,” she said.
"It is for the courts to consider this matter and reach a decision. We have no further comment," the royal court told Tyla in a statement.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Rape Crisis England and Wales helpline on 0808 500 222, available 24/7. If you are currently in danger or need urgent medical attention, you should call 999.
Topics: Crime, News, World News, Royal Family
Lucy Devine