Marius Borg Hoiby, the 29-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been sentenced to four years in prison after being found guilty of two counts of rape by the Oslo District Court. The verdict was delivered on June 15, 2026, concluding a trial that has drawn international attention due to the defendant’s proximity to the Norwegian royal family.
Royal connection
Hoiby is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her former partner Morten Borg, and became the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon when his mother married the heir to the throne in 2001. Despite this, he holds no official royal titles or duties and is not in the line of succession. The royal family has repeatedly emphasised that he is not a public figure, but his background meant he was treated as a royal by the national media and his case was closely followed both in Norway and abroad.
The charges and verdict
Hoiby faced a total of 40 charges, including four counts of rape, domestic violence, assault, drug offences and driving violations. The court cleared him of two of the rape counts but found him guilty of the other two, as well as some of the remaining charges. He was not present when the verdict was read; instead he appeared via video link from custody.
The trial spanned seven weeks and heard testimony from multiple accusers, including former girlfriend and influencer Nora Haukland. Prosecutors presented evidence from Hoiby’s mobile phone, including messages, images and videos. They had argued for a sentence of more than seven years, maintaining he was guilty of 39 of the 40 charges. The defence, in contrast, sought a sentence of no more than 18 months for the offences Hoiby had admitted to. It is expected his lawyers will appeal the verdict.
Hoiby pleaded not guilty to the most serious accusations, including the rape charges, but admitted to several lesser offences: drug possession, transporting marijuana, traffic violations and breaches of a restraining order.
Background and previous offences
Born on January 13, 1997, to Mette-Marit and Morten Borg, Hoiby’s legal troubles first surfaced in 2017 when he was fined for cocaine possession at a music festival. In 2023 he came under scrutiny for associating with gang members. During 2024 he was arrested multiple times on allegations of violence, drug use and violating restraining orders, and in August 2025 he was formally indicted on charges including rape and domestic violence. The case has been called one of the most extensive rape investigations in recent Norwegian history.
Throughout the proceedings, Hoiby’s requests to serve his pre-trial detention at home – including at the royal residence Skaugum – were repeatedly denied by the courts, including the Norwegian Supreme Court, which cited a high risk of reoffending.
Royal family’s reaction
Prince Haakon said in a statement last week: “Marius Borg Hoiby is not part of the royal household. In that respect, he is independent. But of course we love him. He is an important part of our family. And he is a citizen of Norway. With that, he has the same responsibilities as everyone else, but also the same rights.”
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who has been undergoing treatment for pulmonary fibrosis and was on a lung transplant waiting list during the trial, visited Hoiby in prison alongside Prince Haakon. The case also brought renewed scrutiny of the Crown Princess’s past associations with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, for which she has publicly apologised, describing it as “poor judgment”.
