Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway is facing a difficult time as her eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, has recently found himself at the centre of a significant legal controversy following his conviction for multiple offences, including two counts of rape. The 28-year-old was sentenced to four years in prison by an Oslo court in June 2026. The case has cast a shadow over the royal family, particularly as Mette-Marit strives to balance her public duties with her responsibilities as a mother.
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Mette-Marit, who became the Crown Princess after marrying Crown Prince Haakon in August 2001, has three children. While her youngest two, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, are the direct heirs to the Norwegian throne, it is Marius from her previous relationship that has recently drawn attention for troubling reasons. The public has long been fascinated by Mette-Marit’s personal history, which includes a candid acknowledgment of her past struggles with substance abuse, especially during her earlier years as a single mother to Marius.
Born in 1997 in Oslo to Mette-Marit and Moren Borg, Marius’s troubled journey has captured headlines since the couple became royal in 2001. Although he was brought up alongside his half-siblings, he was never bestowed a royal title. Marius attempted to carve a path for himself, exploring various careers in fashion and media before eventually working as a motorcycle mechanic. Yet, the trajectory of his life took a drastic turn when legal issues began to surface, starting with a violent incident in Oslo in August 2024.
Marius’s arrest in 2024 was a precursor to a series of troubling allegations. He admitted to assaulting his girlfriend during that incident while under the influence of substances, igniting a pattern of behaviour that would ultimately lead to his conviction. By August 2025, prosecutors had amassed 32 charges against him, including multiple counts of rape and domestic abuse, alongside other violent offences. His situation escalated to a new level of severity in early 2026 when he faced further charges just ahead of his trial.
The trial, which lasted for seven weeks, resulted in a guilty verdict for 34 offences, including rape, assault, and domestic violence. Upon sentencing, the court deemed Marius’s actions serious enough to warrant a prison term, and he was ordered to pay compensation to his victims. Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon have remained publicly silent about the verdict, although Haakon did express concern for those affected by the case in a statement.
Meanwhile, Mette-Marit’s younger children are dealing with their own challenges as they navigate public life. Princess Ingrid Alexandra, born in January 2004, is second in line to the throne and has begun taking on royal duties as she prepares for her future role. Having completed military training and pursuing higher education in Australia, she faces the strain of her brother’s legal troubles alongside her mother’s ongoing health issues—Mette-Marit has been living with pulmonary fibrosis since 2018 and was added to the lung transplant list in early 2026.
Ingrid Alexandra has openly discussed the emotional toll of her family’s difficult circumstances in interviews. “Of course, it’s difficult,” she shared, acknowledging the impact on her and her parents due to Marius’s actions. The weight of her brother’s situation appears to be a source of distress, not just for her but for the entire royal family.
Prince Sverre Magnus, born in December 2005, is also gradually stepping into a more prominent role within the royal family. Despite being third in line to the throne, he has been raised with a focus on leading a relatively normal life, engaging in pursuits such as photography and skiing. Like Ingrid, he finds himself confronted with the repercussions of his brother’s actions, which continue to affect the family unit.
The situation surrounding Mette-Marit and her children throws light on the often-overlooked personal challenges faced by royals. As Mette-Marit grapples with the ramifications of her son’s conviction and her health issues, she remains committed to her duties as a Crown Princess. The royal family’s future may depend not only on their public personas but also on how they navigate these significant personal trials in the eyes of the Norwegian public.