Norwegian princess's son on trial for assault

Marius Borg Hoiby, the 29-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has begun a high-profile criminal trial in Oslo, facing a sweeping set of accusations that have rocked the Norwegian monarchy. 

Hoiby, who is not a titled member of the royal family and holds no official duties, has been charged with 38 offences, which include multiple counts of rape, domestic violence, assault, and drug-related crimes. 

At the opening of the trial on February 3, 2026, Hoiby denied guilt on the most serious allegations, including several rape charges and claims of sexual abuse, while admitting to some lesser offences. 

Authorities say the case involves four alleged rapes, some of which were recorded on his phone, along with accusations related to violence against former partners and the possession and transport of around 3.5 kilograms of marijuana. 

The trial is expected to run for several weeks, with hearings scheduled through mid-March. Prosecutors have said that if convicted, Hoiby could face up to a decade in prison. 

Just days before the trial began, a Norwegian court ordered Hoiby detained for four weeks after he was arrested on new allegations including bodily harm, threatening someone with a knife and violating a restraining order, charges that add to those he already faces. 

The proceedings have drawn intense media attention and intensified scrutiny on the Norwegian royal family. Both Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have said they will not attend the trial, though they have expressed support for the victims and trust in the fairness of the legal process. 

The case has also coincided with renewed public criticism of Crown Princess Mette-Marit over her past contact with the late US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, something she has acknowledged as an error in judgment. Despite the scandal, recent polls indicate that a majority of Norwegians continue to support the constitutional monarchy.