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

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