Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby entered Norway’s royal family in 2000 with a past that defied convention. A single mother whose youth was punctuated by parties and friendships far from aristocratic circles, she was greeted with skepticism by both the press and the public. With the quiet backing of King Harald and Queen Sonja, however, she reshaped her image. Over the years, she became known as a grounded, discreet, and approachable princess.
© Rune Hellestad - CorbisHer advocacy on social issues, particularly in health and literature, gave her standing. And alongside Haakon, she projected a marriage built on unity and genuine affection. The narrative shifted: she was no longer an outsider, but a future queen. However, the recent Marius Borg case has reawakened old doubts. A recent poll shows Princess Mette-Marit’s image has taken a hit, just as the countdown to her son’s trial begins.
A survey conducted by InFact for Nettavisen, a Norwegian digital news outlet, found that only 30.2% of respondents believe Crown Princess Mette-Marit is suited to be Norway’s future queen. By contrast, 65.1% view Crown Prince Haakon as highly suitable for the throne, a striking gap between husband and wife.
© HAKON MOSVOLD LARSENThe outlet links these results to the case against her son, Marius Borg, who faces 32 serious charges, including four counts of rape, domestic violence, threats, sexual abuse, and repeated violations of restraining orders. The highly publicized trial, set to begin February 3, 2026, and run through March 13 with 24 hearings in the Oslo District Court, could have unpredictable consequences for the monarchy.
© Julian ParkerOther factors also weigh on the princess’s standing: her increasingly erratic official schedule, tied to health issues, has led to several major cancellations. Most notably, she and Haakon had to scrap a planned state visit to the United States, a trip of significant importance for a royal family whose aging king rarely travels abroad anymore.
While Marius Borg’s actions must ultimately be judged on their own, without assigning responsibility to his mother, the reality is that both the princess and the entire Norwegian royal family are under intense pressure. Officially, they maintain a stance of institutional neutrality.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesYet reports suggest Mette-Marit’s name surfaced multiple times during the yearlong police investigation. According to Norwegian outlets such as Se og Hør, some victims claimed she was aware of what was happening and had even been tipped off about early arrests before they occurred, though she was never formally summoned to testify.
“In August, when the prosecutor’s office announced the charges, Prince Haakon said, ‘Now we know what the charges are, so it will be up to the court to decide how this ends.’” His words underscored that the royal family is bracing itself for what lies ahead.
© LISE ASERUDThe possible outcomes range widely: a full conviction and prison sentence, a partial conviction, a plea deal, or an acquittal. Each scenario could impact the monarchy differently.
For now, observers agree this trial represents one of the gravest challenges faced by any European royal family in decades, with consequences that remain impossible to predict.
