Norway's royal family is still reeling from loss. King Harald V was laid to rest on September 9, and on September 23 the country will say goodbye to his older sister, Princess Astrid — King Haakon VIII's aunt — who died two days after attending her brother's funeral. Now comes a very different kind of news: Marius Borg Høiby, Queen Mette-Marit's eldest son from a relationship before her marriage into the royal family, has a date for his day back in court.
© Patrick van KatwijkNorway's Borgarting Court of Appeal announced Thursday that it will begin reviewing Borg's appeal on Tuesday, February 9, 2027. Sixteen court days have been set aside for the proceeding, which — if the schedule holds — would run through March 5.
What's actually being retried
Borg, 29, was convicted by the Oslo District Court in June and sentenced to four years in prison on a string of charges, including two rapes and abuse in a close relationship, largely tied to his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, television personality and influencer Nora Haukland. He was acquitted of two additional rape charges involving other women. Of the 40 counts he originally faced, he was found guilty of 34.
© OLE BERG-RUSTENContrary to how the case has sometimes been described, the appeal isn't a full do-over of the entire trial. Because Borg had already admitted guilt on the violence and restraining-order violations tied to a second woman, those charges won't be reheard. The two rape acquittals are also final, since the women involved chose not to appeal them. What the Court of Appeal will actually revisit is narrower: the guilty verdicts on the two rapes and on the mistreatment of Nora Haukland, along with the sentence itself and the compensation awarded to the victims.
The judge overseeing the case is Frode Elgesem, a veteran appellate judge on the Borgarting Court of Appeal known for his work in human rights and corporate social responsibility law. Borg appealed his conviction the same day it was handed down, and on September 10 the court confirmed it would take up the case in full — guilt, sentencing and damages alike. Beyond the prison term, Borg was also ordered to pay a total of roughly $61,000 to four of the women affected by his crimes.
What his lawyer — and the prosecution — had to say
© Pool"This is as expected, and we're naturally pleased with the Court of Appeal's decision," Borg's defense attorney, Petar Sekulic, said in a text message to Norwegian news agency NTB. Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø, for his part, had actually argued the appeal shouldn't be admitted — though he wasn't surprised by the outcome. "We believed this was very strong evidence that the Court of Appeal could have assessed in advance, without needing to do so as part of an appeal hearing," he told NTB.
Life under an ankle monitor
© GTRESBorg was held in custody from the start of his trial in February through July 13. Since then, he's been under house arrest at Skaugum — the official residence of Norway's crown princes — wearing an electronic ankle monitor. All told, that adds up to more than 200 days that will be subtracted from whatever final sentence he ultimately receives.
Norwegian outlet Se og Hør has reported that his time under restriction hasn't been without its comforts: pool access, gatherings in the garden, and even an outdoor barbecue under police supervision — none of which violate the terms of his confinement, and visitors are permitted. What he can't do is leave the designated perimeter or use drugs.
A funeral appearance that split public opinion
Borg's presence at King Harald's funeral made headlines well beyond Norway. He took an active role in moving the king's casket to the chapel at the Royal Palace and sat among the monarch's other grandchildren at Oslo Cathedral. The decision to let him take part in the funeral procession proved divisive at home, sparking debate that spilled well past Norway's borders.
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