Norwegian Crown Princess's Son Marius Borg Høiby Denied Release From Custody Ahead of Rape Verdict Despite Mother's Deteriorating Health

Jun 10, 2026

A Norwegian appeals court has denied compassionate release for Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who remains in custody awaiting a verdict on 40 charges, including rape. The decision, which cited a risk of reoffending, was made despite the princess's deteriorating health; she has pulmonary fibrosis and is on a waiting list for a lung transplant. Prosecutors are seeking a seven-year sentence for Høiby.

Høiby custody appeal ruling

▪The court concluded Høiby must remain in prison due to a risk of reoffending, which it assessed as "virtually unchanged" since a May 13 decision.
▪The appeal court's ruling on June 10, 2026, overturned a lower court's decision from June 8 that had ordered Høiby's release on compassionate grounds.
▪A Norwegian appeal court rejected a request by Marius Borg Høiby to be released from custody ahead of a verdict in his rape trial.

Rape trial charges

▪Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of seven years and seven months for Høiby.
▪Marius Borg Høiby, 29, is awaiting a verdict on 40 criminal charges, including four counts of rape, sexual assault, and drug trafficking.
▪Høiby denies the four counts of rape but admits to lesser charges, including possessing drugs and traffic offenses.
▪The rape charges against Høiby involve women who were either asleep or incapacitated after they had had consensual sex.

Crown Princess lung transplant

▪Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, was placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant on June 5, 2026, due to pulmonary fibrosis.
▪The specialist, Are Holm, said patients are typically placed on the transplant list when they are believed to have only a year left to live.
▪A lung specialist at Rikshospitalet stated Mette-Marit's lung function has "dropped significantly" in the last three months, calling the situation "dangerous."

Norwegian royal family crisis

▪The court case and revelations of Mette-Marit's past friendship with Jeffrey Epstein have cast a shadow over the Norwegian royal family.
▪Queen Sonja has described the situation regarding the Crown Princess's health as "serious."

Høiby family background

▪Despite not being a member of the royal family, Høiby was brought up within it.
▪Marius Borg Høiby is Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship and does not hold a royal title or perform official duties.