Marius Borg Høiby, the disgraced 29-year-old stepson of Norway’s newly proclaimed King Haakon, was granted temporary leave from house arrest under electronic monitoring to join the Royal Family in moving the bier of the late King Harald V—a decision that has sparked widespread public fury.
Just weeks after being convicted of two counts of rape among a staggering rap sheet of domestic violence, drug offenses, and violent threats, Høiby was seen walking alongside the newly minted Queen Mette-Marit and King Haakon in a televised royal procession at the Royal Palace in Oslo. Wearing an electronic ankle monitor beneath his formal suit, the royal family’s black sheep took a prominent place directly behind the late monarch’s coffin, prompting an immediate wave of public outrage across Norway.
The decision by police prosecutors to allow a convicted rapist to participate in solemn state events leading up to King Harald’s state funeral on September 9 has ignited intense scrutiny over the royal family’s handling of Høiby’s endless stream of scandals.
A Rap Sheet of Violence, Rape, and Humiliation
Høiby, whom Queen Mette-Marit brought into the royal household from a previous relationship before marrying Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, has spent years plunging the palace into unprecedented humiliation.
In June, an Oslo court convicted Høiby on 34 of 40 criminal charges, sentencing him to four years in prison. The conviction included two counts of rape—one involving an unconscious woman at a party hosted in the basement of the royal residence at Skaugum while his mother and stepfather were upstairs. Court proceedings laid bare horrifying evidence, including videos found on Høiby’s phone depicting a victim who told the court she was “completely unconscious” and that the realization felt like “a betrayal and a shock.”
Breaking down in tears during his testimony, Høiby deflected all responsibility. He blamed his horrific actions on media pressure and a toxic lifestyle: “I am known for being my mother’s son. Nothing else. I have had an extreme need for validation, and that manifested itself in a lot of sex, a lot of drugs, and a lot of alcohol.”
The legal case came after a number of violent incidents, one of which was the Norwegian scandal of August 2024. Police were called to an apartment in Oslo. The authorities stated that Høiby attacked his then-girlfriend and left a knife in the wall of the bedroom. He later attributed his behavior to drugs and alcohol in a public statement.
He stated: “I was intoxicated with alcohol and cocaine after an argument… I have several mental illnesses which mean that throughout my upbringing and adult life I have had, and still have, challenges.”
Despite facing double-digit victims across multiple charges of domestic abuse, bodily harm, and death threats, Høiby’s legal team launched an appeal against his four-year sentence. While awaiting the appeal outcome, he was granted permission to serve remand custody under electronic monitoring at the royal estate of Skaugum—the very location where some of the illegal parties and abuses took place.
“You Are Using Your Best Years To Put Things Up Your Nose”
The royal stepson’s downward spiral into organized crime and heavy drug abuse was no secret to authorities. Newly revealed audio recordings captured an undercover sting by Oslo’s organized crime unit, where officers pulled Høiby aside in a private vehicle to issue an unprecedented personal warning about his cocaine use and connections to major drug traffickers.
On the secret recordings, officers can be heard confronting the privileged royal stepson about his reckless behavior: “Number one, cocaine is illegal, regardless of which family you’re in. Number two, we’ve seen you with various players who are interesting for us, who we know sell narcotics, and not only that, but on a large scale.”
When Høiby arrogantly dismissed their concerns, claiming he was “handling it in my own way,” the undercover officer delivered a blunt, scathing scolding: “You’re using your best years to put things up your nose. You are so privileged, you have all kinds of possibilities… There’s no one else we would have taken the trouble to meet like this, because you are who you are.”
The officer added a prophetically grim warning about the shame he was bringing upon the monarchy: “We are here to reach out a hand if you need help. Otherwise, there will be all kinds of headlines.”
Public Backlash over Royal Privilege
These headlines have led to a national controversy for Norway’s new King and Queen. Many citizens are questioning why royal privilege seems to include allowing someone under house arrest to take part in King Harald’s memorial procession.
Police Prosecutor Oda Karterud defended the decision to release Høiby temporarily from the Skaugum estate, stating: “The public prosecutor deemed that there were grounds to grant the requests for leave submitted by Høiby in connection with the death. Leave has been granted for the funeral on September 9.”
However, many people expressed anger on social media after seeing footage of Høiby following his mother, Queen Mette-Marit, through the Palace Chapel. Online comments included: “Marius should NOT be part of this,” and “I can’t believe they let a convicted rapist stand beside the King’s coffin.”
As Norway prepares to lay its beloved King Harald V to rest on September 9, the dark shadow of Marius Borg Høiby’s crimes continues to loom large over the monarchy—leaving the new King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit to face a country appalled by the shameless display of royal leniency.
