Lead: Marius Borg Hoiby, 29 and the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette‑Marit, went on trial in Oslo on Feb. 3, 2026, facing a sweeping indictment including rape and filming women without consent. Prosecutors have brought 38 counts against him, among them four counts of rape and six counts of non‑consensual filming. He pleaded not guilty to the rape and filming charges but admitted guilt on several other counts, including transporting more than seven pounds of cannabis. The case, arriving amid renewed scrutiny of his mother’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein, has intensified public attention on the royal family.
Key takeaways
- Defendant: Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, eldest son of Crown Princess Mette‑Marit; no royal title or official duties.
- Charges: 38 counts in the indictment, including four counts of rape and six counts of filming people without consent.
- Plea: Not guilty to rape and non‑consensual filming; guilty pleas entered on cannabis transport (over seven pounds), restraining‑order violation and other counts; partial guilty plea for aggravated assault.
- Timeline: Trial opened in Oslo on Feb. 3, 2026; proceedings are expected to last roughly six weeks.
- Royal response: Members of the royal family did not attend the first day of the trial.
- Context: Arrest in a separate case occurred days before the trial began; allegations and substance‑abuse reports have drawn sustained media scrutiny.
Background
Marius Borg Hoiby is the eldest child of Mette‑Marit and was about 4 years old when his mother married into Norway’s royal family. Although he holds no official status or duties, his profile rose because of his family connection to the heir apparent, Crown Prince Haakon, and because of earlier public reports linking him to substance problems and allegations of violence. The current indictment alleges a wide range of misconduct; prosecutors have framed the charges to cover both sexual and nonsexual offenses, as well as criminal conduct related to drugs and property.
The trial comes at a sensitive moment for the Norwegian monarchy. Press coverage has intensified partly because of renewed attention to Crown Princess Mette‑Marit’s past association with Jeffrey Epstein—an association now drawing public and political scrutiny though the precise implications remain disputed. Norwegian institutions, including public broadcasters and police, have handled reporting and procedural steps separately, keeping legal processes and palace communications formally distinct. The combination of criminal allegations, family visibility and historical controversies has elevated the case into a broader national debate about accountability and public trust.
Main event
The Oslo trial opened on Feb. 3, 2026; court schedules indicate proceedings will continue for about six weeks. Prosecutors laid out an indictment with 38 counts that span four alleged rapes, six counts of filming people without their consent, reported physical assaults, threats, property damage and other offenses. On the first day in court, Mr. Borg Hoiby pleaded not guilty to the rape and non‑consensual filming charges, according to reporting by Norway’s public broadcaster, NRK. He did, however, accept responsibility for certain separate offenses, including transporting more than seven pounds of cannabis and breaching a restraining order.
Members of the royal family did not attend the opening session, and the palace has maintained a cautious public posture, limiting official statements while noting the separation between private family members and the institution’s public duties. Courtroom detail from local media described a standard arraignment and procedural motions; substantive witness testimony and evidentiary disputes are expected to occupy the coming weeks. Police action that led to a separate arrest days earlier remains part of ongoing investigations and was mentioned in court filings as a related development.
The defendant’s legal team has signaled that they will contest the most serious sexual‑assault claims while acknowledging other admitted offenses. Prosecutors have emphasized the breadth and number of charges in the indictment as a basis for pursuing custodial penalties and other sanctions if convictions are secured. Observers note that partial guilty pleas can change the shape and duration of trial proceedings but do not resolve the outstanding counts to which Mr. Borg Hoiby has pleaded not guilty.
Analysis & implications
Criminally, the case tests Norway’s courtroom processes for high‑profile defendants who have close family ties to national institutions. Courts in Norway proceed on the principle of equality before the law, but high visibility cases strain ordinary procedural norms and create pressure on judicial administrators to ensure fairness and safety. A conviction on the rape counts would carry significant custodial consequences under Norwegian penal statutes and could trigger civil claims and protective orders; acquittal on those counts would still leave other admitted or proven offenses with penalties and reputational consequences.
Politically and institutionally, the trial raises questions about the monarchy’s buffer against private misconduct by relatives. The palace’s consistent refrain has been to distinguish private family members from official representatives, but when allegations involve criminal conduct the public often seeks clearer accountability or remedial steps. The renewed focus on the crown princess’s earlier contacts with Jeffrey Epstein complicates the public conversation; even if legally unrelated, the historical association amplifies scrutiny and invites parliamentary and media inquiry into transparency standards for public figures.
Socially, the case is likely to shape debates in Norway about sexual violence, consent, privacy and digital recording without consent. The allegations of non‑consensual filming intersect with broader European discussions about image‑based abuse and consent, where legal frameworks and enforcement practices are evolving. Advocacy organizations and legal scholars will be watching how evidence around private recordings, testimony and digital forensics is handled, as rulings could influence investigative standards and victim support services.
Comparison & data
| Charge category | Number cited in indictment |
|---|---|
| Rape | 4 |
| Filming without consent | 6 |
| Other counts (assault, threats, property damage, restraining‑order breach) | Remaining of 38 total |
| Cannabis transport | Transportation of more than 7 pounds |
The table above draws directly from the indictment as reported in open reporting. While the counts are specific in number, legal outcomes will depend on the court’s evaluation of evidence, witness credibility and applicable statutes. Historically, high‑profile criminal trials in Norway proceed under the same evidentiary rules as other cases, but publicity and third‑party reporting can affect timing and witness availability. Analysts caution that counting charges is only a first step: the nature of the proofs introduced at trial will determine conviction risk and sentencing exposure.
Reactions & quotes
“He pleaded not guilty to the rape and filming charges, but guilty to several other counts,”
NRK (Norwegian public broadcaster, reporting)
NRK’s reporting summarized the pleas entered on the opening day and noted that some admissions to drug‑related and other charges were made in court.
“Prosecutors have charged him on 38 counts, including multiple allegations of sexual assault and image‑based offences,”
Prosecutor’s indictment (reported)
The prosecution’s indictment, as described in court filings and reported by Norwegian outlets, lists the range and number of alleged offenses to be addressed at trial.
“Members of the royal family did not attend the trial’s opening session,”
NRK (Norwegian public broadcaster, reporting)
The absence of official family attendance was noted by local reporting and underscores the palace’s approach to separate private family matters from official engagements.
Unconfirmed
- The precise details and legal significance of Crown Princess Mette‑Marit’s past links to Jeffrey Epstein remain under public scrutiny but are not resolved in court records related to this trial.
- Details of the separate arrest that occurred days before the trial—including any formal charges tied to that arrest—have been reported but await fuller public documentation in court filings.
- Any internal palace decisions about future public duties or private discipline concerning family members have not been officially disclosed and remain speculative.
Bottom line
The case of Marius Borg Hoiby brings a mix of criminal law, media scrutiny and institutional sensitivity into focus. Legally, the court will now evaluate a multi‑count indictment that combines sexual‑assault allegations with other criminal conduct; the most serious counts remain contested. Institutionally, Norway’s monarchy faces reputational pressure as the public parses the boundaries between private family behavior and the symbolic role of the royal household.
Observers should expect a drawn‑out process: evidentiary hearings, witness testimony and forensic analysis of digital evidence are likely to shape outcomes over the coming weeks. Regardless of verdicts, the trial will prompt renewed discussion in Norway about transparency, protections for alleged victims and how public institutions respond when individuals connected to them face serious accusations.
Sources
- The New York Times (international news reporting)
- NRK (Norwegian public broadcaster, reporting on pleas and court attendance)
- Agence France‑Presse (news agency / photo credit)