Marius Borg Høiby's trial begins on February 3rd. Hosted in Oslo District Court, the case is bound to be one of the most widely covered cases in Norway's modern history, with Borg facing 32 criminal charges, including four counts of rape. He's the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
On a busy morning of official duties, Prince Haakon addressed the press, revealing how his family will handle the coming weeks as the trial unfolds. His comments came in between scheduled events, including the opening of the Norad Conference 2026, and a visit to the Fredrikstad Library centenary celebration with his wife.
At 11:00 a.m. local time in Oslo, he invited leading national media to speak specifically about the trial. “I thought it would be good to clarify a little how we are going to handle this,” he said.
“Princess Mette-Marit and I have decided not to be present in the courtroom. We also do not plan to comment or issue statements about the trial during the proceedings.” His statement underlined the Royal House's intent to maintain distance from the courtroom.
“Both the King, the Queen, and I have planned an official program during this period and intend to carry it out,” he said, confirming his and his parents' attendance at the Winter Olympics in Italy, which begin on February 7th.
Where will Mette-Marit be through it all?
In one of his most significant revelations to the press, Haakon confirmed that Crown Princess Mette-Marit will withdraw entirely from public duties for the duration of the trial.
She has planned a private trip for the weeks ahead, though the full length of her time away has not yet been finalized.
“Marius Borg Høiby is not part of the royal family, so in that sense he is free,” he continued, stressing that legal responsibility applies equally to all Norwegian citizens. “But we love him, of course, and he is an important part of our family. He is a citizen of Norway. Therefore, he has the same responsibilities and the same rights as everyone else.”
This distinction reflects a longstanding clarification in the Royal House of Norway; although his mother is the Crown Princess, Marius has no royal title or official duties.
Haakon also took a moment to address the victims directly. “This affects them, of course. Their families. Those who care about them. We care about them. I know that many of you are having a hard time right now.”
His remarks resemble earlier comments made by King Harald V, who, in an end-of-year interview with NRK, expressed the hope that victims and their families would find peace through the legal process.
Despite not attending the trial in person, Haakon said the royal family will follow developments through media coverage and stay engaged with what happens to Marius during the proceedings.
When asked about Marius’s well-being, the Crown Prince declined to speak on his behalf. "I think Marius should be allowed to tell his own story if he wants to. I don’t think I should speak for him,” he said.
On the broader family situation, he made it clear that while the family is calm, they'll be glad once the proceedings are over. “We’re calm. It’s clearly a difficult situation, but it is for everyone involved."