Norwegian Royal Family Faces Unprecedented Crisis as Rape Trial Begins

When Marius Borg Høiby stands in Oslo district court on Tuesday, he'll face the cameras alone. His mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, won't be there. Neither will his stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to Norway's throne.

The 29-year-old faces 38 charges, including raping four women, assaulting his girlfriend, and drug offenses. If convicted, he could spend more than 10 years in prison. But this seven-week trial is about more than one man's alleged crimes—it's testing whether Norway's famously down-to-earth monarchy can survive its biggest scandal ever.

A Royal Family's Painful Distance

The palace's decision to stay away speaks volumes. Crown Prince Haakon, who has called Marius his son for over two decades, delivered an emotional statement: "We love him, of course, he's an important part of our family." Yet love, it seems, has its limits when public duty calls.

The charges are devastating. Prosecutors allege Marius raped four women between 2018 and 2024, including one incident at the royal family's official residence. He's also accused of violent assault against former girlfriend and influencer Nora Haukland, allegedly punching, kicking, and choking her while calling her degrading names.

Marius has admitted to some lesser charges and acknowledged struggles with substance abuse and mental health issues since childhood. But he denies the most serious allegations through his lawyers.

The Problem of Being Almost Royal

The roots of this crisis trace back to 2001, when four-year-old Marius appeared on the palace balcony during his mother's wedding to Crown Prince Haakon. The image was powerful: a new blended royal family embracing modern values.

But royal correspondent Tove Taalesen, who worked inside the palace, believes this was a critical mistake: "He lifted up this sweet, innocent little boy and presented him to the Norwegian people. But they didn't give Marius any title, any purpose, so he had this odd function in the family—he was a big part of it, but he wasn't a part of it."

This liminal status—royal privilege without royal responsibility—may have contributed to Marius's troubles. He grew up in the spotlight but without the structure and expectations that guide other royal children.

A Cascade of Royal Scandals

The Marius trial isn't happening in isolation. Crown Prince Haakon's sister, Princess Märtha Louise, recently married American shaman Durek Verrett amid accusations of commercializing her royal title. She's since given up her princess title but continues to court controversy.

More damaging still, newly released documents reveal that Crown Princess Mette-Marit stayed at convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach home for four nights in 2013. The palace called it "poor judgment," but the timing—amid her son's sex crime trial—couldn't be worse.

The Monarchy's Resilience Test

Despite the scandals, 73% of Norwegians still support the monarchy, largely due to the popularity of 88-year-old King Harald V. But this crisis tests whether that support extends beyond the beloved monarch to the institution itself.

The timing is particularly awkward: on Tuesday, as Marius's trial begins, Norway's parliament holds its regular four-yearly vote on abolishing the monarchy. While passage is unlikely, the symbolism is stark.

Royal expert Ulf Andre Andersen, who broke the original story, warns: "It's a very dangerous moment, because the royal family should be role models." The question isn't just whether Marius is guilty, but whether the monarchy can maintain its moral authority.