Marius Borg Hoiby, 28, the son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been formally charged with raping four women and committing 28 additional offences, including property damage, issuing death threats, and secretly filming women’s genitals. He is also accused of abusing two former girlfriends. The offences carry a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison.
Although Hoiby is not a prince and holds no official position in the royal household, his arrest and the ensuing legal proceedings have put unprecedented strain on the popularity of Norway’s monarchy. A recent poll found nearly half of Norwegians reported that Hoiby’s alleged behaviour negatively affected their view of the royal family, while membership of the country’s republican association has more than doubled. Some surveys suggest over a third of Norwegians would like to abolish the monarchy entirely.
Hoiby is the Crown Princess’s son from a brief relationship with a convicted criminal before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon. As the first stepson in the royal family, he drew significant public attention in childhood, earning the nickname “Little Marius” in reference to a character in Alexander Kielland’s 1883 novel Poison.
Throughout his adolescence and early adulthood, Hoiby frequently appeared in tabloid reports for disruptive behaviour. In 2017, at age 20, he was fined for drug possession at a music festival. In 2024, he became the focus of a criminal investigation following a domestic violence incident at a former girlfriend’s flat.
The charges against Hoiby were initially filed in June and included three rapes. The indictment has since expanded to include four alleged rapes between 2018 and 2024, reportedly occurring while the victims were asleep following consensual encounters.
State prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo described the case as “very serious,” noting that “rape and violence in intimate relationships are very serious acts that can leave a lasting impact and destroy people’s lives.” Hoiby’s defence lawyers have said he recognizes the seriousness of the charges and will cooperate with authorities, though he denies most allegations beyond a guilty plea to violent acts against one woman and her property.
The Norwegian royal household emphasized that the matter is now in the hands of the courts. The monarchy has faced additional public scrutiny due to Princess Märtha Louise’s marriage to American spiritual practitioner Durek Verrett, who has promoted anti-scientific conspiracy theories. Despite these controversies, surveys indicate that King Harald, 88, continues to enjoy strong public support.
