Oslo: Marius Borg Hoiby, the 27-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, has been detained for up to one week as police investigate accusations of rape made against him. A Norwegian judge made the ruling on Wednesday.
Allegations of Sexual Assault
Hoiby, who is the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, was detained by police on Monday in connection with accusations involving two women. He is suspected of having sexual encounters with the women while they were unconscious or otherwise incapacitated. Each of the alleged incidents reportedly involved a “sexual encounter without intercourse”, according to a police spokesperson, though further details were not disclosed.
Legal Response
Hoiby’s lawyer, Øyvind Bratlien, has denied the accusations, asserting that his client is innocent and opposed to the preventive detention. It remains unclear if Hoiby plans to appeal the court’s decision to detain him. Investigators had initially requested to hold him for up to two weeks.
While Hoiby does not hold a royal title and is not in line to inherit the throne, the police investigation has expanded to include accusations of violence against other women and drug use.
Prior Incident and Public Acknowledgment
This investigation follows a separate incident on August 4, when Hoiby was named a suspect in a physical assault case involving a woman with whom he had been in a relationship. In a later public statement, Hoiby admitted to causing bodily harm while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol and damaging the woman’s apartment. He expressed regret for his actions.
Family Reactions
Crown Prince Haakon, speaking to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK during an official visit to Jamaica, expressed the emotional toll the case had taken on the royal family. “These are serious allegations Marius now faces, and we are of course thinking of all those affected,” Haakon said.
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Ongoing Investigation and National Impact
The police investigation is ongoing, and no trial date has yet been set. The case has drawn attention to domestic violence in Norway, a nation known for its commitment to gender equality but where one in ten women reported experiencing severe harm from a partner in a recent study.
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Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre addressed the situation in August, acknowledging that the challenges facing the royal family were similar to those many other Norwegians face. He also reaffirmed his belief that support for the monarchy remains strong.
Hoiby is the older half-brother of Princess Ingrid Alexandra, second in line to the throne, and Prince Sverre Magnus, third in line.
