BERLIN (AP) — Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is set to be released from custody following his arrest last week on allegations of rape, as reported by Norwegian broadcaster NRK on Wednesday.
While he will be released, the Oslo police have opened an investigation into a separate alleged sexual offense for which Borg Høiby has not yet been charged. Unfortunately, further details regarding these new allegations have not been disclosed.
Borg Høiby, 27, is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the Norwegian throne. He does not hold any royal title or responsibilities.
He was arrested on preliminary charges for having allegedly engaged in sexual intercourse with someone who was unconscious or otherwise unable to give consent. These preliminary charges allow law enforcement to hold suspects while they gather evidence during their investigation.
Authorities have not provided a specific date for when the alleged rape took place, merely stating that “the victim must have been unable to resist the act.” Borg Høiby has publicly denied the accusations against him.
During the week he spent in custody, the police reviewed evidence collected during his arrest and conducted numerous witness interviews, as confirmed by Prosecutor Andreas Kruszewski in a Wednesday press release. Reports suggest that investigators found videos on Borg Høiby’s cell phone that may show the alleged assaults, though he maintains his innocence.
The Norwegian royal palace has refrained from commenting on the ongoing situation, according to NTB. On Wednesday, law enforcement stated that they would not seek to extend Borg Høiby’s detention, indicating that there was no risk of vital evidence being compromised. His defense attorney, Øyvind Bratlien, expressed relief, stating, “This was not surprising. He shouldn’t have been imprisoned at all,” and expected Borg Høiby to be released later that day.
In a separate incident on August 4, police had responded to a disturbance in central Oslo and briefly detained Borg Høiby. At that time, he faced preliminary charges related to bodily harm and criminal damage before being released. The specifics of that case remain unclear but police noted a connection between the suspect and the victim.
Since then, additional preliminary charges have been levied against Borg Høiby, including violations of restraining orders and driving without a valid license, involving a total of four women and one man.
The case has drawn considerable media attention in Norway, where the royal family enjoys significant public support. Borg Høiby resides with Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, along with their two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit herself made headlines back in 2001 when she married Haakon, notably being a single mother at that time and having a past that included a tumultuous relationship with a partner who had a criminal history related to drug offenses.
