Crown Princess’ son nabbed on new assault claims before trial

International

NORWEGIAN police have arrested Marius Borg Hoiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, on suspicion of assault just days before he is due to stand trial on a series of serious criminal charges.

According to a BBC report, Hoiby, 29, was taken into custody on Sunday and later remanded for four weeks. Police said the new allegations involve the use of a knife and a breach of a restraining order, adding that there is a risk he could commit further offences if released.

The arrest comes ahead of his scheduled appearance before the Oslo District Court on Tuesday, where he faces 38 charges, including the alleged rape of four women. Hoiby has denied the most serious accusations but has admitted to some lesser offences.

This is the fourth time Hoiby has been detained since August 2024, when he was first accused of assaulting a woman he had been in a relationship with. The Oslo District Court approved the request for pre-trial detention, citing the need to prevent repeat offences.

Although Hoiby is not a member of Norways royal family, he is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon. The royal household has sought to distance itself from the case, describing him as a private citizen.

In a statement last week, Crown Prince Haakon expressed sympathy for the women involved and their families, saying it was a difficult time for many.

The case has placed renewed pressure on the royal family, already facing scrutiny over Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s past contact with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Crown Princess has acknowledged showing poor judgement in maintaining those links and has expressed solidarity with Epsteins victims.(Georgia Olivar, USJ-R Comm Intern)