Stepson of Norway’s crown prince jailed for four years in rape case | News | Al Jazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/15/stepson-of-norways-crown-prince-jailed-for-four-years-in-rape-case?traffic_source=rss&tg_rhash=5c7e9409d1c28f
An Oslo district court has sentenced **Marius Borg Høiby**, the 29-year-old stepson of Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon, to **four years in prison** following his conviction on charges including rape and domestic violence.
The verdict follows a seven-week trial in Norway that exposed extensive electronic evidence, intimate video footage, and Høiby's deep struggles with substance abuse.
## Case Details & Convictions
The court convicted Høiby on multiple counts after reviewing more than 800 electronic messages and self-recorded footage:
* **Two counts of rape:** One of the incidents Høiby was convicted of took place in the basement of Skaugum, the official residence of the crown prince. The court acquitted him on two other separate rape counts, citing insufficient proof of a lack of consent.
* **Domestic violence:** He was convicted of domestic abuse against his former partner, Nora Haukland. Høiby had previously pleaded guilty to this charge.
* **Narcotics offenses:** He was convicted of drug offenses, including transporting 3.5kg (7.7 lbs) of marijuana in 2020, to which he also pleaded guilty.
Høiby did not attend the reading of the verdict in person, citing undisclosed medical reasons. He has been in custody since February 1, 2026, and followed the court proceedings via a secure videolink from Oslo Prison.
## Royal Status and Statements
Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and became part of the royal family when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001. Because he grew up adjacent to the throne without an official royal title or duties, Høiby addressed his position during the trial, stating:
> *"I’m mostly known as my mother’s son, not anything else. So I’ve had an extreme need for recognition my whole life, and that manifested itself in a lot of sex, a lot of drugs and a lot of alcohol."*
> Crown Prince Haakon has publicly distanced the monarchy from the case, emphasizing that Høiby is not a member of the Royal House. The Crown Prince told reporters:
> *"He is a citizen of Norway and, as such, has the same responsibilities as everyo
ne else."*>