The eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess has been charged with rape, sexual assault and bodily harm, Norweigan police have said.
The charges follow a months-long investigation of a case involving a “double digit” number of alleged victims.
Marius Borg Høiby, 28, is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon, and is the son of Mette-Marit from a previous relationship.
He has no royal title or official duties.
Høiby was arrested three times in 2024 in connection with the case.
Police say that they have conducted a “thorough investigation” of the cases, including a witness interviews, police searches and extensive digital material, including text-messages.
Oslo Police Attorney Andreas Kruszewski said Høiby was cooperative during police questioning, which is now complete.
The charges included one case of rape involving intercourse and two cases of rape without intercourse, four cases of sexual assault and two cases of bodily harm, Kruszewksi said at a news conference.
Altogether Høiby faces 23 charges, which also include violating a restraining order and road traffic offences.
“I cannot go into further detail about the number of victims in the case beyond confirming that it is a double-digit number,” he said.
Høiby’s defence attorney Petar Sekulic has said the defendant is ““absolutely taking the accusations very seriously, but doesn’t acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases — especially the cases regarding sexual abuse and violence.”
The royal palace did not immediately respond to an e-mailed request from the Associated Press seeking comment.
Høiby remains free pending a possible trial and is entitled to a presumption of innocence until a court rules otherwise.
Høiby previously lived with the royal couple and their two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, but now lives nearby, according to Sekulic.
Norway’s future queen made headlines in 2001 when she married Haakon because she was a single mother who had once been a companion of Høiby’s father, a felon convicted of drugs charges.
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