The son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit is remanded in custody. Marius Borg Høiby, 27, faces an imminent verdict in a rape trial. The decision to detain him signals the court’s gravity. This is not a minor royal misstep. This is a criminal case.
Høiby, the crown princess’s son from a previous relationship, has no official royal role. But his mother's position gave him proximity to power. Now, that proximity works against him. The palace is silent. Leaks suggest deep unease within the royal household.
The remand order came late Tuesday. Prosecutors argued flight risk. The defence cried foul. But the judge agreed with the state. Høiby will spend his nights in a cell until the verdict. That verdict could land him years behind bars.
This scandal has a longer tail. Høiby was arrested in August after a domestic incident. Then, more allegations surfaced. The rape charge stems from an incident in 2023. The victim is not named. Norwegian law ensures anonymity.
The royal family’s handling has been clumsy. First, a statement acknowledging the arrest. Then, radio silence. Now, this. The Norwegian press is circling. They smell blood. The monarchy’s approval ratings are already soft. A conviction could shatter them.
Palace insiders whisper about a crisis meeting. The king is said to be furious. The crown princess is devastated. But public sympathy is limited. Høiby is not a teenager. He is a grown man with a history of legal trouble.
The trial itself has been explosive. Closed sessions. Testimony from former girlfriends. A pattern of alleged abuse. The court heard of control, jealousy, and violence. The defence paints a picture of a troubled young man, not a criminal. But the evidence is mounting.
Today, a new poll suggests 60% of Norwegians believe the monarchy has handled this badly. That is a dangerous number. The royals rely on public trust. They are losing it.
So what happens next? The verdict is expected within days. If guilty, Høiby faces years in prison. If acquitted, the scandal will not simply vanish. The damage is done. The Norwegian monarchy has been wounded. And in the game of thrones, wounds take a long time to heal.
Whitehall watchers should take note. This is a textbook case of how institutions fracture under pressure. Poor communication, reactive silence, and a family that forgot the first rule of survival: protect the crown, not the prince.
