After several months of investigation, Oslo police announced that they have charged 28 year old Marius Borg Høiby, the oldest son of Norway’s crown princess, with multiple charges including one count of rape involving intercourse, two counts of rape without intercourse, four counts of sexual assault, and two counts of bodily harm. The police said that the number of victims is in the double digits but would not specify the exact number (translation: more than 9, less than 100); however, Høiby’s defense attorney stated that there are 15-20 victims. Marius was arrested three times last year due to allegations of rape and on preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage, which led to the investigation that included text messages, witness testimonies, and police searches.
Marius is the step-son of Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to Norway’s throne. As Marius is not blood related to the royal family, he is not a prince and is not part of the line of succession. Marius was four years old when his mother Mette-Marit married Prince Haakon in 2001. People were critical of the marriage because of Mette-Marit’s lack of education and her previous relationships with convicted felons (including Marius’ father). In 2012, she attracted further controversy for assisting a Norwegian couple with ties to the royal family in procuring surrogacy services in India, despite the fact that surrogacy is banned in Norway. In 2019, it was revealed that she had met with Jeffrey Epstein several times after he was convicted of sex trafficking of minors in 2008. She has been accused of warning her son about his impending arrest and of evidence tampering and witness tampering.
In 2017, Marius was convicted of drug charges. The same year, his mother announced that Marius was a private citizen and would not have public duties like his siblings, 21 year old Princess Ingrid Alexandra and 19 year old Prince Sverre Magnus. His mother also criticized the Norwegian press for reporting on his “youthful recklessness.” Norway’s royal PR has made the distinction that although Marius is part of the royal household, he is not part of the royal family.
The alleged victims and crimes that were investigated: [Spoiler (click to open)]
* Two instances of violence against a woman in the Frogner neighborhood of Oslo were reported, according to the charges. She is his most recent ex-girlfriend. On 13 September 2024, police arrested Høiby for allegedly contacting her by phone, in violation of a restraining order. He was released the next day. Høiby has not admitted culpability. Earlier in 2024, Høiby was arrested for violence against her. A blood test was taken (while arrested); the test results were consistent with those of someone that had recently been using “cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis”. The following day, recordings via telephone were released by the media, in which Høiby can be heard making multiple references to slapping/striking her previously. On 23 August he was charged with making threats against her.
* Violence against a named woman at a date that has not been made public. She was once a girlfriend of Høiby.
* Sexual assault (or rape) of a woman that was unable to resist. There was no intercourse, according to the police. The court closed its doors to journalists, when the court system decided that Høiby can be detained by police until 27 November. The alleged victim has not pressed charges. Previously, Høiby was arrested on 18 November. Earlier (8 November), investigation started after police found video clips on Høiby’s mobile phone. The incident allegedly happened on Palm Sunday in an apartment where the alleged victim was registered as living; she does not know the other alleged victims. He did not know her previously. He has not admitted culpability.
* Another charge of rape is in regard to a woman in her 20s. There was no intercourse, according to the police. She was allegedly raped on 26 September at Skaugum.
* In regard to yet another rape charge; Høiby has been charged with rape that involved intercourse; The prosecutor claims that the alleged victim fell asleep, some time after voluntary intercourse had started.
* In addition, one person has allegedly received a death threat from Høiby, according to the police. Høiby is charged with having messaged him (through Instagram) and written that the person is a “fucking dead man.”
The scandal has been described as the “decimation of the Norwegian royal family’s reputation,” particularly because of its proximity to all of the controversy surrounding his step-uncle, Durek Verrett, who is married to Princess Märtha Louise, the sister of Crown Prince Haakon. There is far too much to thoroughly discuss, so I am going to just leave a link to his Wikipedia page here and tempt you to click by sharing a few of his claims:
* He claims he can “turn atoms” and literally reduce age
* He says that casual sex attracts subterranean spirits that make an impression on the inside of women’s vaginas (so of course he also sells exercises to “clean out” said vaginas)
* He believes he is a hybrid species of reptilian and Andromeda
* He says children get cancer because they want it
* He sold medallions that he said would cure COVID-19. When his claims were found to be in violation of Norwegian law, he switched to selling medallions that he said could cure dogs of various ailments. The Norwegian Veterinary Association has stated that Verrett’s claims are not based on science.
* He has compared himself to “geniuses [like] Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, the Wright brothers and Helen Keller.”
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