Norwegian royals break silence on rape allegations against future King's stepson

The Norwegian  Royal Family have broken their silence and reflected on a “challenging” year after rape accusations emerged against the future King’s stepson.

This year has been no piece of cake for the Scandinavian royals who have been rocked by scandals over the last 12 months.

Last month Marius Borg Hoiby, the eldest son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship, was released from custody after his arrest on rape allegations, marking the third time he has been arrested since August.

Police said he was arrested on suspicion of sex with “with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons unable to resist the act”.

Høiby admitted to causing the woman bodily harm while “under the influence of alcohol and cocaine” in a statement.

Borg Hoiby was first arrested on August 4, 2024, after a late-night incident at a woman’s apartment in Oslo. The royal was accused of “physically and psychologically” assaulting the resident and causing damage to her home. Police said the pair had been in a relationship.

In September, the royal was arrested a second time for violating a restraining order. He is alleged to have contacted the victim from a hidden phone number, despite a restraining order being in place.

And now Princess Mette-Marit has reflected on not only a “demanding autumn” but also a “demanding year”.

In an interview with NRK, Norway’s public broadcasting group on Christmas day, his mother – the Crown Princess said: “If I had to choose one word for this year, it would be challenging.

“It has been a demanding year and a demanding autumn for us.”

Borg Hoiby said he had suffered with “mental troubles” and struggled “for a long time with substance abuse”.

He said he would seek new treatment and “take it very seriously”.

Following the incident, the 27-year-old became the first ever royal family member to have been charged with a crime and is no longer publicly listed as part of the Scandinavian household.

Brog Holiby is the eldest child of Princess Mette-Marit, and was born before Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon – the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne – in 2001.

He and his step-siblings – Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20 and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18 – were raised together by Mette-Marit and Haakon.

Marius has no official public role or royal title.