Son of Norway's crown princess charged with rape and domestic violence

The son of Norway's crown princess has been charged with rape and domestic violence, among other crimes, a prosecutor said.

Marius Borg Hoiby, the oldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges, according to Oslo state attorney Sturla Henriksboe. The 32 offences include one count of rape with sexual intercourse and three counts of rape without intercourse, some of which he filmed on his phone, the prosecutor said.

The 28-year-old has also been charged with making death threats, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner and acts of violence against another. Hoiby denies the most serious accusations against him but plans on pleading guilty to some lesser charges in court when the trial starts, his lawyer Petar Sekulic said.

"He does not agree with the claims regarding rape and domestic violence," Sekulic said of his client. The charges come following a year-long police investigation, as part of which Hoiby was arrested in November 2024 and held in detention for a week.

His trial could start as soon as January and is set to take around six weeks, the prosecutors' office told broadcaster NRK. Hoiby is currently free pending trial.

"It's up to the judges to decide if he is guilty," prosecutor Sturla Henriksboe said. This statement was echoed by the royal palace, which said that it was up to the courts to handle the case and reach a decision, and it had nothing to add beyond that.

Read more from Sky News:Israelis protest against Gaza warNearly 2,000 soldiers fighting Spain fires Hoiby is the son of Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship and the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon. However, he is outside the line of royal succession and has no title..