The stepson of Norway's crown prince pleaded not guilty to rape charges as he went on trial on Tuesday for multiple offences, opening weeks of proceedings in a case that has rocked the country's royal family.
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. Høiby has no royal title or official duties.
Høiby stood for 24 minutes while prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø read out the 38 counts against him at the Oslo district court, asking him if he pleaded guilty.
He replied "no" to each of the most serious charges, including the four counts of rape.
The charges also include abuse in a close relationship against one former partner, acts of violence against another, drug possession, death threats and traffic violations.
Høiby pleaded guilty to several driving offences, to an aggravated drugs offence and breaking a restraining order, and "partly" to threats and aggravated assault.
Prosecutors have said that he could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted in the trial, which is scheduled to last until 19 March. Seven alleged victims are expected to testify.
"There is equality before the law," Henriksbø told the court. "The defendant is the son of the crown princess. He is part of the royal family. He shall nevertheless be treated in the same way as any other person who is charged with the same offences."
The investigation began in 2024 when Høiby was named as a suspect of assault against a woman with whom he had been in a relationship. He was arrested and later released, but the case expanded as more women came forward with allegations against him.
The indictment that prosecutors filed last year centres on four alleged rapes between 2018 and November 2024; alleged violence and threats against a former partner between the summer of 2022 and the autumn of 2023; and two alleged acts of violence against a subsequent partner, along with violations of a restraining order.
It was widened last month when Høiby was charged with six new offences, including possession and delivery of marijuana, and further restraining order violations.
He had been free pending trial until Sunday, when police said that he was arrested over new allegations of assault, threats with a knife and violation of a restraining order.
Royal family feels the heat
The royals are generally popular in Norway, but the Høiby case has been a problem for the family's image and the trial opened at a particularly sensitive moment.
Mette-Marit faces renewed scrutiny over her past contacts with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The latest documents from the Epstein files — released on Friday — show that she maintained extensive contact with him between 2011 and 2014.
The crown princess said in a statement that she "must take responsibility for not having investigated Epstein's background more thoroughly, and for not realising sooner what kind of person he was."
She added: "I showed poor judgment and regret having had any contact with Epstein at all. It is simply embarrassing."
Haakon said last week that he and Mette-Marit didn't plan to attend Høiby's trial and that the royal house didn't intend to comment during the proceedings.
In a statement ahead of the trial, he said: "We love him [Høiby]. He is an important part of our family. He is a Norwegian citizen, so he has the same responsibilities as everyone else, as well as the same rights."
The crown prince also voiced sympathy for the alleged victims.
"We think about them, we know many are going through a difficult time," he added.
