Màrius Borg Hoiby, the child adopted by the Norwegian monarchy who now faces 32 legal charges
Norwegian prosecutors have charged Princess Mette-Marit's eldest son with four counts of rape. He recently lost a lawsuit stemming from a book that accused him of selling cocaine. The palace has already stated that it will not pay any of the fines imposed by the courts.
BarcelonaWhen this time of year arrives, many people are eager to eat the twelve grapes and start the new year, anxious to know what new things the next 12 months will bring. However, this positive approach to the new year will certainly not be shared by Mette-Marit of Norway, who in February 2026 will experience one of the most bitter ordeals a mother can endure: seeing her son in the dock. This tragic moment will be amplified in her case by the international media pressure surrounding the case involving her eldest son, as it is rare to see a member of a monarchy appear in court.
Although Màrius Borg Høiby, Mette-Marit's only son with her first husband, never held any official role in the Norwegian monarchy nor received any noble title, he did live as a full-fledged member of the Crown. In fact, his position was the best of all for many people, since in practice he had none of the obligations of his relatives but did enjoy the privileges. This position of double privilege is now seen as a very bad combination for a child who has known no limits since going to live in the palace at the age of four. Márius, son of the future queen, stepson of the future king Haakon, and older brother of Crown Princess Ingrid, faces 32 legal charges at only 28 years old. These include rape and other serious sexual offenses. An explosive mix that, according to the Norwegian press, could end with a sentence of up to ten years in prison.
A story of double overprotection
With these prospects for 2026, it's natural to ask what has happened to bring us here. The answer is long because it has involved many episodes over the years, but it can be summarized very briefly: he has been overprotected in the broadest sense of the term. Beyond the overprotection typical of a mother who drags her child into a particularly complicated situation, Màrius has also been overprotected as a citizen, since the long shadow of the future queen consort of Norway has shielded him, as the Scandinavian press has reported on several occasions. And this protection has been so extensive that it has allowed him to have an advantage over the police and, consequently, also over the justice system. And this is precisely what makes this trial, in the media, not only an audit of Màrius's allegedly criminal past but also of the role his mother—and, therefore, the monarchy—may have played in all these events, since all the evidence presented by the parties, as well as everything explained beyond the conclusion, can be examined, including the testimonies cited. Justice for the accused could be detrimental to a royal family at a very low point.
Màrius was formally charged in August with four rapes that took place between 2018 and 2024—the last one after he was already known to be under police investigation—and other counts of abuse. These were added to some twenty crimes he had previously been charged with, bringing the total to 32. This final figure is the result of an investigation that began after his arrest in August 2024 for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend. Based on all the investigated incidents, the Norwegian prosecution has charged him with several acts of violence against another ex-girlfriend, property damage, disturbing the peace, traffic violations, and even secretly filming the genitals of some women without their knowledge and consent.
Bad precedents
Given this grim outlook, it emerged that Màrius planned to deny the most serious charges in order to fight them at trial, while for the less serious ones, he would prefer to plead guilty when the trial begins. But even before it starts, Princess Mette-Marit's son has already suffered his first legal setback. An Oslo court has ruled against the young man and confirmed that the book will not be withdrawn from sale. White stripes, black sheepHe was accused of selling cocaine in 2023, an allegation he denies despite having publicly acknowledged struggling with addiction. As a result of this conviction, he will have to pay €4,000 in court costs, in addition to €46,000 to the publishing house for damages. In response to this conviction, the palace quickly issued a statement to stem the damage to its reputation, declaring that neither the Norwegian royal family nor the crown prince and princess will be responsible for these payments.
Màrius will also begin his trial at a disadvantage due to information published this week in the Norwegian press regarding a search he conducted on his confiscated mobile phone, which has now been leaked. Apparently, he searched for the difference between "assault," "abuse," and "rape." This search, in itself, would not constitute a crime or be evidence of anything unless one considers that he conducted it long before his case began to gain momentum and was publicly presented as an isolated incident of violence within his immediate circle. In fact, he had never been arrested at that time.
This media frenzy has caught the Norwegian monarchy in a very delicate situation, as King Harald of Norway is 88 years old and has only a few years left on the throne. If he were to die and abdicate in favor of his son now or in the near future, the news would be extremely unwelcome for Crown Prince Haakon, as the controversy surrounding the trial would then be linked not to the prince but to the king. Sometimes, when things go badly, monarchs abdicate and take the blame with them, paving the way for a supposedly untainted successor, as Juan Carlos I did in Spain. But in the Norwegian case, the situation is the opposite, as it is the heir who could be implicated, since he is the one who raised the young man now facing legal trouble. And worst of all, the heir's daughter, Princess Ingrid, is only 21 and would not be eligible for any position should the Norwegian people oppose Haakon's appointment. In fact, for now, she's been sidelined by being sent to study in Sydney. Haakon has a sister, Märtha Louise, who could assume the role of queen. But it seems unthinkable that the Norwegian people would prefer her afterward. of having married a shaman and of having dedicated herself to selling her life in magazines and reality shows to continue living like a palace, but free from royal duties. Even in the best-functioning countries, monarchies are not functional institutions.