Queen Mette-Marit of Norway's disgraced son Marius Borg Høiby given key role at King Harald’s funeral despite house arrest
Much to the shock of millions of spectators, Marius Borg Høiby assumed a key role in the funeral proceedings of his late grandfather, King Harald V of Norway, earlier this week.
That's because the 29-year-old - the son of Queen Mette-Marit and stepson of the late king's son, King Haakon VIII - is currently under house arrest.
Earlier this year, Høiby was convicted of two counts of rape, alongside other offences, and was sentenced to four years in prison.
Tyla previously reported that Høiby faced a total of 38 charges after six further allegations were added to the case, including offences relating to drugs, restraining orders and traffic violations.
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His trial followed a lengthy investigation which began after his arrest in August 2024.
Despite the criminal proceedings, Høiby joined several other senior Norwegian royals as they accompanied Harald's coffin through the Royal Palace in Oslo on Monday (31 Aug).
In a particularly striking moment, he helped to carry the wooden coffin, having been positioned at the back of the coffin alongside King Haakon's children, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.
Princess Märtha Louise and her three daughters, Maud Angelica Behn, Leah Isadora Behn and Emma Tallulah Behn, also assisted.
Høiby's mother also took part in the procession, walking behind the coffin alongside Harald's widow, Queen Sonja.
It marked the first time the new Queen has been spotted publicly for a while, given that she's currently recovering from a recent lung transplant.
Mette-Marit also drew her own share of unwanted attention earlier this year over her association with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she stated apology, despite not being accused of any wrongdoing.
At the front of the procession were the King's chief of staff and the head of the royal secretariat, carrying the Crown of Norway and the sword of the kingdom respectively.
According to HELLO!, Høiby had received special permission to leave house arrest to participate in the solemn procession, which saw the late monarch's coffin moved from the palace to the Palace Chapel ahead of his state funeral next week.
He was subjected to electronic monitoring, however.
The ceremony came just days after King Harald passed away peacefully, aged 89, at Oslo University Hospital on 28 August.
The palace confirmed his death following treatment for a bacterial infection, bringing an end to his 35-year reign. His son, Haakon, automatically succeeded him as king last week.
As a reminder, Haakon's stepson Høiby does not have a royal title or official duties - nor is he in the line of succession.
He became part of the wider royal family when his mother married then-Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, when he was just four years old.
Høiby's legal team has appealed both his conviction and his four-year sentence.
As the appeal process continues, he has been allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest with electronic monitoring rather than in prison. His sentence is therefore not yet final.
Topics: Royal Family, World News, News, Crime
Rhianna Benson