By John Ikani
Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been taken into custody by police on allegations of rape.
Authorities accuse the 27-year-old of engaging in “sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or otherwise unable to resist.” The incident is being treated as a preliminary charge, allowing investigators to detain him while the case is examined further.
Høiby, who is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, holds no royal title and has no official duties. According to local media, he has denied the allegations. While police have not disclosed when the alleged crime took place, they assert that the victim was incapable of resisting.
“The victim must have been unable to resist the act,” the police stated. The case, brought forward by authorities rather than the alleged victim, has seen the woman’s lawyer, Hege Salomon, confirm that her client “is having a hard time.”
This marks the second time in recent months that Høiby has faced legal trouble. In August, he was briefly detained following a disturbance in Oslo, where he was accused of bodily harm and property damage. He was later released, but additional charges have since emerged.
These new allegations include breaching restraining orders and driving without a valid license. Altogether, the cases involve interactions with four women and one man, as outlined by the police.
The royal household has yet to issue a formal response to the developments, which have sparked significant public and media interest.
