Son of Norway's Crown Princess Charged with Multiple Offenses

Oslo police have charged Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, with multiple counts of rape, sexual assault, and bodily harm following a months-long investigation involving a "double-digit" number of alleged victims. Høiby, 28, was born from a relationship prior to Mette-Marit's 2001 marriage to Haakon. He was raised alongside his stepsiblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, but holds no official public role. According to his defense attorney, Petar Sekulic, Høiby previously lived with the royal family but now resides in a separate house nearby. The charges include one count of rape involving intercourse, two counts of rape without intercourse, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of bodily harm. Evidence was gathered from text messages, witness testimonies, and police searches. Høiby has cooperated during police questioning. His defense attorney stated that Høiby takes the accusations seriously but denies wrongdoing in most cases, particularly those concerning sexual abuse and violence. The royal palace has not provided a comment. Høiby remains free pending a possible trial and is entitled to a presumption of innocence until proven guilty in court.