Marius Borg Hoiby pictured in 2022 (Picture: Hakon Mosvold Larsen/NTB/AFP)
The eldest son of Norway’s crown princess has been charged with multiple offences including rape and abuse against a former partner.
Marius Borg Hoiby,28,is son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon,the heir to the throne in the Norwegian royal family.
Among the 32 charges he faces are four counts of rape,abuse in a close relationship against one former partner,acts of violence against another,making death threats,harassment of police,and traffic violations.
He is also accused of illegally filming a number of women,including their genitals,without their knowledge or consent.
The four rapes are alleged to have happened between 2018 and November 2024,and allegedly all took place after consensual sex while the women were sleeping. Hoiby is accused of filming all of the women during the alleged rapes.
Norwegian prosecutors say the charges come after a lengthy investigation,and he could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. He had been held by police for a week in November of last year as part of their investigation.
Oslo State Attorney Sturla Henriksbo speaks to the media about Hoiby’s indictment in (Picture: EPA)
Hoiby has no royal title or official duties,and is outside the line of royal succession.
He is currently free ahead of his trial,which is set to begin in January and could last for six weeks.
Hoiby’s defence team has said he takes the accusations seriously but does not acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases.
His lawyer,Petar Sekulic,said he plans to plead guilty to some of the lesser charges in court once the trial starts,but ‘does not agree with the claims regarding rape and domestic violence’.
Last year Hoiby admitted causing bodily harm to a woman he had been in a relationship with,saying he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol at the time.
He said in a statement last August that he regretted his actions.
The Norwegian royal court said: ‘It is for the courts to consider this matter and reach a decision. We have no further comment.’
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