Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway’s son will be held in prison for up to a week while police investigate allegations of rape made against him, an Olso court ruled on Wednesday night.
Marius Borg Hoiby, 27, was arrested on Monday night on suspicion of rape, marking the third time he has been arrested since August.
Police said he was arrested on Monday on suspicion of sex with “with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons unable to resist the act”.
On Wednesday a judge approved the police’s request for a one-week detention period while investigations are ongoing. The judge also forbade Borg Hoiby from receiving any visits or letters during the same period.
Borg Hoiby’s lawyer, Oeyvind Bratlien, told the press his client is innocent after the hearing was held behind closed doors. The lawyer said he plans to appeal the detention ruling.
Crown Prince Haakon has spoken out on his stepson’s accusations and told Norwegian broadcaster NRK: “Marius is facing serious accusations, which the police and the judiciary will deal with. I am convinced they will do a good job.”
He added: “As a family and as parents, we have wanted Marius to receive help and we have been working for a long time to get him to a place where he can receive more help. It is something we give a lot of priority to. It must be done within the framework established by the legal system”.
Earlier in the week, during an official visit to Jamaica, he said: “These are serious allegations Marius now faces, and we are of course thinking of all those affected.”
Borg Hoiby was first arrested on August 4, 2024, after a late-night incident at a woman’s apartment in Oslo. The royal was accused of “physically and psychologically” assaulting the resident and causing damage to her home. Police said the pair had been in a relationship.
In September, the royal was arrested a second time for violating a restraining order. He is alleged to have contacted the victim from a hidden phone number, despite a restraining order being in place.
On Tuesday, police also said the suspicions relating to the August incident now included domestic abuse.
Marius is the eldest child of Princess Mette-Marit, and was born before Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon – the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne – in 2001.
He and his step-siblings – Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20 and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18 – were raised together by Mette-Marit and Haakon.
Marius has no official public role or royal title.
