The Norwegian royal family is facing a serious image crisis following the arrest of Marius Borg Høiby, the 27-year-old son of Princess Mette-Marit, accused of physically and verbally assaulting a young woman. The events unfolded on August 7, when Marius was arrested for approximately 30 hours in Oslo. Although he was released on bail, the investigation is ongoing and has revealed disturbing details that could complicate his legal situation.
According to the Norwegian media See and Hearthe police have found a recording in which Marius allegedly threatens the victim with set fire to their belongings if he does not accede to her demands. This call, which took place between the incident and the arrest, could be crucial to the case, putting the defense of the princess’s son in jeopardy. In addition, in the apartment where the alleged assault occurred, a knife stuck in the wallwhich could further aggravate the charges against him.
The charges against her include “physical and psychological” assault, with the victim, who has remained anonymous, reportedly suffering a concussion and being hospitalised following the incident. Although the young woman’s identity has not been confirmed, some rumours suggest that she could be her current partner, Rebecca Helberg Arntsenwith whom Marius has been in a relationship since the end of 2023.
Given this situation, the Prince HaakonMette-Marit’s husband, broke his silence from Paris, where he was attending the Olympic Games. Speaking to TV2, he said: “It is a serious matter when the police are involved as they are,” although he refrained from commenting further on the case, considering it was not “correct” to intervene in the situation.
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The victim’s lawyer, Mette Yvonne Larsen, has asked for discretion and avoided speculation about the case. “For the sake of the investigation, she cannot give any further information about physical injuries,” she said. However, she also confirmed that her client has not requested a restraining order and that, although he is on sick leave, he has not required hospitalization after the incident.
Despite the media hype, the Royal Family has kept a low profile. Mette-Marit reappeared on August 9 in Paris to support her husband at the Olympicspresenting an image of calm. However, the scandal has revived concerns about Marius’ record, who has already been at the centre of previous controversies, including an incident related to drug trafficking.
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This episode adds to the existing concerns about King Harald’s health and the challenges facing the Norwegian Royal Family. Mette-Marit, suffering from chronic pulmonary fibrosis, has had to reduce her schedule on numerous occasions, which has added pressure to the Royal House at this delicate time.
The situation of Marius Borg Høiby The investigation continues to unfold, and the future of the young royal, as well as that of the Royal Family, depends on the progress of the investigation. Media and public attention is focused on how these developments will affect the image of one of Europe’s most beloved royal families.
