Marius Borg Høiby, the 28-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been charged with 32 offences, among them four counts of rape, according to prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø. The allegations involve the abuse of a former partner and violations of restraining orders with another. Høiby is the product of a previous relationship prior to Mette-Marit’s marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, Norway's future king.

Though Høiby denies the most serious charges, his attorney Petar Sekulic stated that he intends to plead guilty to some lesser offences as the trial approaches. If convicted of the more serious charges, he could face a maximum prison sentence of up to 10 years. Additional charges include filming the private parts of numerous women without their consent.

The alleged incidents of rape occurred between 2018 and 2024, with one reported to have taken place after his arrest. Høiby was arrested on three occasions last year during investigations prompted by assaults, with the police revealing in June that he faced suspicions of three rapes along with 23 other offences.

The prosecution anticipates that the trial may commence in January and is expected to last approximately six weeks. For those affected by similar crimes, resources for support and assistance can be found on bbc.co.uk/actionline or through their dedicated helpline.