The stepson of Norway’s crown prince broke down in tears in court as he denied claims that videos found on his phone showed acts of rape, during the opening day of a trial that has shaken the country’s royal family.
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, told the court that the recordings did not depict non-consensual sex. Visibly emotional, he struggled to hold back tears as he addressed the packed courtroom filled with journalists.
Høiby, who has lived much of his life under intense public scrutiny, said growing up in the spotlight contributed to struggles with alcohol, sex, and reckless behaviour. He explained that constant media attention from a very young age left him with a deep need for validation, which he claimed influenced many of his past actions.
He is facing a total of 38 criminal charges, including rape, domestic violence, assault, and drug-related offences, some dating back to 2018. If convicted of the most serious charges, he could face a lengthy prison sentence. On the first day of proceedings, he pleaded not guilty to rape and domestic violence but admitted partial responsibility for aggravated assault and reckless conduct, as allowed under Norwegian law. He also accepted guilt for lesser offences such as speeding.
Among the allegations are claims that Høiby filmed sexual acts involving women who were allegedly unable to give consent. Prosecutors told the court that some of these videos were found on his mobile phone. Høiby insisted he never shared the footage and maintained that none of it showed sexual assault.
“If I believed I had material showing an assault, I would never have kept it,” he said, stressing that he does not engage in sex with people who are unconscious.
Part of his testimony focused on an after-party held in 2018 at the basement of the crown prince’s family residence near Oslo. Prosecutors allege that Høiby filmed himself performing a sexual act on a woman who was unconscious. The video was shown to the court behind closed doors. Høiby acknowledged having sex with the woman but denied carrying out or filming any sexual act while she was unconscious, describing the encounter as consensual and saying he later arranged a taxi for her to leave.
Earlier in the proceedings, the alleged victim testified that she only became aware of the incident after being contacted by police about the video. She said she did not consent to the act that was recorded, while prosecutors argued she was in no condition to give consent.
The case has drawn intense public attention, coming at a time when the monarchy is already under pressure. Recent revelations about Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past associations with the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have added to the scrutiny surrounding the royal family.
The palace confirmed that the crown princess has postponed a planned private trip abroad, without giving further details. Meanwhile, public support for the monarchy has reportedly declined, with a growing number of Norwegians expressing support for a republican system.
Høiby’s trial is expected to continue until March 19, as the court hears further testimony in one of the most serious scandals to confront Norway’s modern monarchy.
