Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son has pleaded not guilty to four rape charges as his trial opens in Oslo. Marius Borg Hoiby faces 38 counts, including assault and domestic violence, in a case that has shaken Norway’s royal family.
Published On 3 Feb 20263 Feb 2026
Share
Marius Borg Hoiby and Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit attend a party in Oslo, Norway, in 2022. Hoiby pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape in his trial that began Tuesday. He faces 38 charges. File Photo by Lise Aserud/EPA
Feb. 3 (UPI) — Marius Borg Høiby, son of the crown princess of Norway, pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape in his trial that began Tuesday in an Oslo courtroom.
Høiby, 29, is facing 38 charges, including abuse in close relationships and filming women’s genitals without their knowledge. He pleaded guilty to some charges, including sexually offensive behavior, violation of a restraining order and some driving-related charges. He pleaded partially guilty to serious bodily harm, reckless behavior and violation of a restraining order.
“The defendant is the son of the crown princess. He is part of the royal family. He should still be treated equally like any other person charged with the same offenses. He should not be treated more severely or more leniently because of those with whom he is related,” lead prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø told the court.
“There is no requirement for a prosecution request from the victims,” he added. “It is society’s responsibility to prosecute serious crimes, regardless of whether the victim themselves wants it. In several of these cases, it is not the victim who has come to the police and said ‘I have been subjected to something criminal.'”
He was arrested again Sunday for alleged assault, making threats with a knife and violating a restraining order. Oslo police are keeping him in custody until March 2.
Høiby is not an official member of the royal family. His mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, married Crown Prince Haakon when Høiby was a young child.
Mette-Marit is facing her own troubles at the moment. Her name shows up more than 1,000 times in the latest dump of Epstein files, showing her close friendship with the late sex offender.
She is also suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and needs a lung transplant.
A week’s hiking in Jotunheimen national park (230 miles north of Oslo) last summer brought me tranquillity and peace. During four days of challenging hiking and wild camping through the area we saw hardly anyone else, having entire lush green valleys and still glacial lakes to ourselves. We were fortunate to have stunning weather throughout and, despite it being July, still had a reasonable amount of snow to traverse. Norway has a fantastic network of signposted trails and huts which can be found on the Norwegian Trekking Association website.
Ben
We had an amazing family holiday on the Jutland coast neat Aarhus, Denmark’s second city. We stayed in a cabin among pine trees and swam every day. We found helpful swimming jetties, making it simple to get into the sea – they even have hooks for towels. The beaches were wild and so quiet we often had them to ourselves. For an urban fix, Aarhus was a joy to visit. The Aarhus Kunstmuseum is definitely worth checking out for contemporary art lovers, followed by lunch at Cafe Folkeven.
Ben Dunne
Stavanger, on the south-west coast of Norway, feels like the picture-perfect example of Scandinavian urban beauty. The city is welcoming, with quaint Gamle Stavanger (the old town) full of shops selling wool and cute bars serving up local beer (my favourite is bookshop cum bar Bøker og Børst). Head further south to Boresanden if you fancy braving the cold with a surf and follow up with a sauna. For further adventure, head east for Preikestolen for awe-inspiring views over the fjord. Finally, take the ferry to Flor og Fjære to wander round the tropical gardens (opens 9 May).
Anisa
Guardian Travel readers’ tips
Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers’ tips homepage
–
In the south of Finnish Lakeland is Lahti, a town that feels a world away from Helsinki despite its excellent rail link to the capital. Lahti is full of charming little cafes and quiet, down-to-earth people, not to mention scenes straight from a fairytale. I spent a month studying here as a student nurse and was equally amazed by the Finnish approach to public health as I was by how comfortable -22C can feel. Between days on placement, I spent time going for long walks over the frozen Lake Vesijärvi (a truly surreal experience) before enjoying Finnish coffee culture at Kahvila Kariranta, a former railway station turned cafe. There’s lots of ice skating and cross-country skiing, or, if you’re looking to unwind, you’re never far from a sauna, which in Finland is viewed as a necessity not a luxury.
Esther
Why hike when you can horse ride? To get off the tourist trail, we opted to explore Norway’s Rondane national park on smallish but strong dole horses (a Norwegian breed) last summer. The horses were gorgeous, incredibly patient – although I can ride, my friend had barely sat on a horse since riding ponies on the beach as a kid – and really sure-footed as they navigated the mountain paths. It was a brilliant way to get deeper into the countryside and take things at a slower pace, giving us plenty of time to take in the views and hear stories about the area from our guide. The holiday was organised by Gutsy Girls.
Fliss
Bornholm island is Danish, but set in the middle of the Baltic between Poland and Sweden. It has beaches of fine white sand and secluded coves – perfect in summer when the island enjoys sunnier weather than most of the surrounding region. History is everywhere, from one of the largest ruined medieval castles in Europe – Hammershus – to remnants of Soviet occupation in 1945-46 and distinctive circular churches. Fish smokeries offer herring, salmon and eel, while bakeries provide the best Danish pastries. Stay at one of Bornholm’s seaside hotels, enjoy the sunsets and you will never want to leave.
Robert Gilchrist
The lakeside town of Nora, 130 miles inland from Stockholm, is one of Sweden’s three “wooden towns” (along with Eksjö and Hjo), where all the buildings are made of timber from the surrounding forests. The town and its surrounding area have a timeless feel of a wealthy bygone age belonging to Nordic nobility. I strolled around Nora’s cobblestone streets and visited the perfectly preserved 19th-century villa Göthlinska Gården. I spent another afternoon in Glasstorget (Ice-Cream Square) to try the local ice-cream, Noraglass. On another day, I wandered around the streets of the Kvarteret Bryggeriet creative quarter – full of independent shops, eateries and with a fascinating microbrewery. The nearby lakes (Norasjön, Fåsjön and Usken) are gorgeous and great for swimming and picnics.
Jo
A great advantage in revisiting a city is venturing further afield, beyond the obvious tourist sights. Returning to Copenhagen, we went in search of one of its most famous architects, Arne Jacobsen, travelling just 6 miles outside the centre. At Bellevue Beach, Klampenborg, an area perfect for summer promenading, Jacobsen built an iconic theatre, a restaurant, the angular Søholm houses, and gleaming-white Bauhaus-influenced apartment buildings. But that’s not all – he even designed the local kiosks and blue-striped lifeguard towers. Twenty minutes stroll down the coast, there’s also a striking Jacobsen petrol station (now part ice-cream parlour) with oval-shaped canopy somewhat reminiscent of the Starship Enterprise.
David M
Visiting Alvar Aalto’s Paimio sanatorium is a quietly thrilling pilgrimage. Set among pine forests in south-west Finland, the building feels tuned to light, air and human dignity. Designed in the 1930s for tuberculosis patients, every detail tells a story: gentle colour palettes to soothe minds, silent sinks to aid rest, chairs shaped for easier breathing. Walking its corridors offers deep insight into Finnish culture – pragmatic, compassionate, nature-led. History lingers in patient rooms and sun balconies, yet the place feels timelessly modern. For design lovers and curious travellers alike, it’s an energising, moving visit, worth seeking out on any trip.
Stephen Edwards
Spend a blissful summer day island-hopping in the inner Oslofjord. The five islands closest to the capital are all easily accessible by regular ferries, and each has its own personality. Langøyene has a broad sandy beach (and a separate nudist option if you like), Hovedøya has the ruins of an 1147 Cistercian monastery (founded by monks from Lincolnshire) and Bleikøya is dotted with colourful Nordic summerhouses. Using the Ruter app will give you 24 hours’ travel for about £10. Budget a bit more if you’d like a drink from the 1930s cafe on the island of Gressholmen. Pack a swimming costume and a picnic basket and marvel in the variety so close to the capital.
Olivia