Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Marius Borg Høiby

I feel that the royal house symbolically helps to keep up a face, and shows how oppression works:

We are not talking about violence. We laugh and we are happy. Something went very wrong when the crown prince couple traveled to Berlin for gala dinners when violence is so close to them. Again, a society sits where we know people are suffering in silence, isolated from friends and family.

Why did the crown prince suddenly choose not to comment further?

The Crown Prince couple want to protect a member of their family and I understand that. But Marius Borg Høiby has lived on the benefits of society and seeks the public himself. Then I believe that statement and answers to critical questions should be answered. At least ignore violence and bravado for women who want to come forward.

Read also: Not just the truth of Juliane Snekkestad and Nora Haukland

How much do they know?

When Crown Prince Haakon made his statement at the beginning of August, I thought it was important and nice. He called the case “serious”, and that now “the case was in the legal system, where it belonged”. I learned that the Crown Prince opened communication with the media.

Now, however, he and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are completely silent. This spring, when the crown prince couple were on a county tour, they talked about what this wonderful place had to offer while smiling to the media. But they will not answer questions about the accused. No reports of violence in intimate relationships.

The Crown Princess says she is “fine with the criticism” without speaking out. I might be inclined to believe this if the disgraced parties themselves have expressed a strong desire not to be mentioned in the media any more, and that this desire is for the royal house to work with its silence. However, I find it hard to believe that the women want to stand alone in this storm.

I find it hard to believe that they don’t want public support from the most powerful family in Norway. They have carried this secret and shame for a long time. Standing up must have cost them a lot.

In addition, I read that Høiby is now accusing his ex-boyfriend of violence, which does not seem to be rooted in reality, based on what I have read in the media. So when the royal household continues to choose silence on the issue “for those involved”, I wonder who they are referring to?

The defendant? The guilty? Himself? How much do they know?

Read also: There is no comment from the Royal Court

The person who remains silent agrees

The royal family should at least be able to answer urgent questions.

When and how is Høiby accountable to whom?

If he is as private a person as the royal house – and especially the crown princess – wants to be, what is he doing with a diplomatic passport? Does he still live in Skaugum? Is he living in Skaugum covered by Norwegian tax money? His legal costs? Who funded his cocaine use? Does he still have a diplomatic passport?

Unfortunately, it seems that the tactics of the royal family win as people forget over time. But the words “he who remains silent agrees” crosses the mind.

The silence sends signals to the victims of violence; Suffering in silence. It is never a good idea to revise. Because who the hell will believe in you?

Your partner can report you back. As the defendant’s lawyer says: “Equality must be before the law.”

For the Norwegian royal house, this may just be a scandal. But for Norwegians, intimate partner violence is a growing social problem.

For the victim of violence who lives in the middle of this, everyday life is about life and death. Literally.

In the meantime, the royal household will not comment out of “consideration for those involved”.