Marius Borg Høiby Faces Trial Amid Renewed Scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Past Contact with Jeffrey Epstein
Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, began trial in Oslo on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, facing 38 charges including rape, abuse, and drug offenses. This high-profile trial coincides with renewed public scrutiny of Crown Princess Mette-Marit's past contact with Jeffrey Epstein, details of which were recently unsealed in U.S. Justice Department files.
Marius Borg Høiby Trial
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, faces a total of 38 counts, with the trial projected to last seven weeks.
Charges and Plea
The indictment against Høiby is extensive, covering a range of serious offenses. It includes four alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024, some reportedly occurring while victims were asleep or incapacitated, and some allegedly filmed. Further charges include abuse in a close relationship against one former partner (mid-2022 to late 2023), two alleged acts of violence against a subsequent partner, and threats to kill and death threats.
He is also accused of transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana in 2020, multiple violations of restraining orders, and various traffic offenses, including high-speed motorcycle driving. Damaging property, such as a broken chandelier, a damaged phone, and a knife embedded in a wall during an altercation in August 2024, is also among the charges.
Høiby pleaded not guilty to the four counts of rape, non-consensual sexual filming, and the majority of the violence-related charges. He admitted culpability for bodily harm, partially for gross bodily harm, several driving offenses, an aggravated drug offense from 2020, and breaking a restraining order.
Prosecutors have requested a prison sentence of seven years, with a potential sentence ranging from up to 10 years to 16 years if convicted of the most serious charges.
Trial Proceedings
The trial commenced at the Oslo district court and is expected to conclude on March 19. A verdict is anticipated several weeks later, possibly by June.
During his testimony, Høiby described a life characterized by partying, stemming from what he called an "extreme need for validation." He referred to himself as "the son of Mummy," attributing this to a "need for affirmation" which he associated with "a lot of sex, a lot of alcohol," and some drug use. He denied that any videos in evidence depict acts of rape.
One woman testified, stating her belief she was drugged during an after-party in December 2018. A fourth woman described an alleged incident on the night of November 1-2, 2024, claiming Høiby engaged in sexual acts with her while she was asleep and filmed these acts without her knowledge. She described feeling increasingly tired and being woken by a "violent blow" to her genital area. Police records indicate 27 videos and four sexually explicit photos were taken by Høiby that night, with some images reportedly showing the woman was asleep.
Arrest and Background
Høiby was initially arrested on August 4, 2024, following a police response to an apartment in Oslo's Frogner suburb. Officers reported finding evidence of an altercation, and his ex-girlfriend was transported to a hospital with head injuries. Høiby later admitted to the August 2024 assault, attributing his actions to being "under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument" and a prolonged struggle with "substance abuse" and "mental troubles."
The investigation that followed this arrest reportedly uncovered the additional suspected offenses, including video footage on his devices that police interpreted as potential rapes. Just days before the current trial, Høiby was arrested for a fourth time on Sunday, February 1, on new allegations of assault, threats involving a knife, and violating a restraining order. The Oslo court granted a request for him to be kept in detention for up to four weeks due to a stated risk of reoffending.
Royal Family's Response
Marius Borg Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon. He holds no royal title, official duties, or position in the line of succession. The Norwegian royal court has stated that neither Crown Prince Haakon nor Crown Princess Mette-Marit plans to attend the trial proceedings and that the royal house will not comment during the trial.
Crown Prince Haakon released a statement emphasizing that Høiby is not a member of the Royal House of Norway and is autonomous. He clarified that Høiby, as a Norwegian citizen, holds the same responsibilities and rights as any other individual. Crown Prince Haakon also affirmed that the family cares about him and that he remains an important member of their family.
Høiby is financially supported by the Crown Prince couple. King Harald previously stated that the matter is "in the hands of the court."
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Jeffrey Epstein
Details of Contact
Crown Princess Mette-Marit has faced renewed scrutiny regarding her past contact with the late U.S. sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Newly unsealed U.S. Justice Department files, released on Friday, February 5, 2026, reportedly contain nearly 1,000 mentions of the Crown Princess. These files include numerous emails exchanged between Mette-Marit and Epstein from 2011 to 2014.
The emails reportedly contained informal language. Mette-Marit used phrases such as "you tickle my brain," "soft hearted," and "such a sweetheart," and she described Epstein as "very charming" in a 2012 email. Other exchanges included discussions about Epstein's "wife hunt" in Paris, to which Mette-Marit reportedly responded that the city was "good for adultery" and "Scandis (are) better wife material." She also thanked Epstein for flowers in one email, signing off with "Love, Mm."
The files suggest plans for meetings and indicate that Mette-Marit stayed at Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida, residence for four days in January 2013 when he was not present. This stay was confirmed by the royal house and was reportedly arranged through a mutual friend.
In an October 2011 email, Mette-Marit informed Epstein that she had "Googled" him, adding "it didn’t look too good" along with a smiling emoji.
The royal palace stated that Mette-Marit ended written contact with Epstein in 2014 after she felt he was "trying to use his relationship with the crown princess as leverage with other people." Mette-Marit was reportedly introduced to Epstein in 2011 through mutual acquaintances while serving as a special envoy for the UN Aids Programme.
Crown Princess's Statements
On Saturday, February 6, 2026, Mette-Marit, 52, issued a statement acknowledging the contact.
"I showed poor judgment and I deeply regret having had any contact with Epstein. It is simply embarrassing."
She expressed "deep sympathy and solidarity" with Epstein’s victims and accepted responsibility for "not having checked Epstein’s background more closely and not understanding quickly enough what kind of person he was."
In an interview with Norway's national broadcaster NRK, conducted at her residence in Skaugum alongside Crown Prince Haakon, Mette-Marit stated she wished she had not met Epstein and felt "manipulated and deceived." She denied that her connection with Epstein extended beyond a friendly relationship and affirmed she "never witnessed anything illegal." She described the published correspondence as "embarrassing" and attributed Epstein's influence to a mutual friend and her own "gullible" nature, stating, "I like to believe the best about people." She explained that the "Googled you... didn't look good" comment indicated her limited knowledge of Epstein's history at the time and that she could not recall precisely what she meant by it. She also expressed "great anger" that Epstein's victims have not received justice and emphasized that she is "not the one to feel sorry for."
Broader Context and Impact
Epstein had pleaded guilty to soliciting sex with a minor in 2008 and was released from prison in 2009, prior to Mette-Marit's contact with him. Inclusion in the unsealed files does not imply wrongdoing.
The revelations have led to public pressure, including from Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The Norwegian parliament unanimously voted to establish an independent investigative commission to examine connections between Norway's foreign office and Epstein.
Public opinion polls conducted after Mette-Marit's interview indicated that a majority of Norwegians were not satisfied with her explanations, with one poll showing 47 percent believing she should not become queen.
Crown Prince Haakon has publicly affirmed his wife's role, stating she will always be part of his "team" and will become queen.
Broader Royal Family Context
These events are occurring amidst other challenges for the Norwegian royal family. King Harald, 88, Europe's oldest reigning monarch, reduced his official engagements in 2024 following hospitalization for an infection and the insertion of a pacemaker. Crown Princess Mette-Marit has a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis, an ongoing health condition. Crown Prince Haakon's sister, Princess Märtha Louise, renounced official royal duties in 2022, and her business ventures have also drawn public attention. Recent public opinion polls indicate a decline in support for the monarchy in Norway.