Royal Family Drama: Crown Princess Mette-Marit's Birthday Amidst Son's Arrest
Scandal Rocks Norwegian Royal Family: Crown Princess's Son Charged with 32 Crimes, Including Rape
In a shocking turn of events, Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, has been charged with an astonishing 32 crimes, including four counts of rape. The allegations have left the royal family reeling, but what's even more stunning is that Høiby seems to be carrying on as usual, partying it up at high-end destinations and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle.
Just one day after the news broke, Crown Princess Mette-Marit marked her 52nd birthday with a new portrait published on the official Instagram account of the Norwegian royal household. The stunning image shows the crown princess smiling in red, white, and blue - the colors of Norway's flag - wearing a navy turtleneck and a striped silk scarf draped around her shoulders.
The caption reads: "Happy birthday to Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who celebrates her birthday today!" But it's unlikely that she'll be celebrating as usual, given the gravity of the situation surrounding Høiby. The crown princess has been dealing with chronic pulmonary fibrosis and was forced to cancel a royal engagement last year due to illness.
Meanwhile, their 21-year-old daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, is living her best life in Sydney, Australia, where she's studying international relations and political economy at the University of Sydney. Recent pictures show her looking happy and relaxed, enjoying a beloved Aussie snack - Tim Tams! The princess was snapped walking around campus with two packets of the chocolate biscuits, which she received as a gift from a university friend.
But Høiby's life is far from carefree. The 28-year-old has been under investigation since his arrest on August 4 last year and now faces charges for four rapes between 2018 and 2024, abuse against his former partner Nora Haukland, and several acts of violence against another ex-girlfriend.
According to the indictment, Høiby allegedly assaulted the women while they were sleeping and filmed the assaults. The assaults also occurred after consensual intercourse. He has also been charged with making death threats, assaulting a public official, and violating the road traffic act. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
Høiby's defense attorney, Ellen Holager Andenæs, refused to comment on the allegations, stating: "I have no knowledge of this and therefore have no comments to give."
But what's even more disturbing is that Høiby has been partying it up since the charges came to light. Just weeks ago, he was spotted at the Cannes Film Festival, where he joined Norwegian businessman Per Morten Hansen on a luxury yacht worth $20 million.
The pair visited the exclusive La Guérite beach club on Île Sainte-Marguerite, a favorite haunt of celebrities like Elton John and Beyoncé. And in June, Høiby jetted off to Hemsedal, Copenhagen, and Italy with friends, continuing his lavish lifestyle despite the allegations.
Høiby's arrest last year was met with concern from Prince Haakon, who told Norwegian news outlet NRK: "Marius is facing serious accusations, which the police and the judiciary will deal with. I am convinced they will do a good job."
But it seems that Høiby has been given preferential treatment - his diplomatic passport was recently revoked by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but it's unclear when exactly this happened.
The royal family has long been known for their charitable work and philanthropy, but this scandal raises questions about how they handle problems within their own ranks. It remains to be seen how this will affect Høiby's relationship with his stepfather and half-brother, Prince Sverre Magnus.
As the investigation unfolds, one thing is clear: Marius Borg Høiby has a lot to answer for.