Norway court orders Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son to remain in custody

Email: online@newsofbahrain.com

Oslo: A Norwegian appeals court has ruled that Marius Borg Høiby, 29 years old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, must remain in custody, overturning an earlier judgement that had temporarily released him on humanitarian grounds.

The Oslo District Court had earlier authorised his temporary parole while he awaits the outcome of his criminal case, taking into account his mother's serious illness, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who has pulmonary fibrosis and is on the waiting list for a lung transplant. However, prosecutors promptly contested the judgement, claiming that he should be detained owing to the gravity of the accusations and public safety concerns.

The appeals court agreed with the prosecution that Høiby should stay in custody since the risk of reoffending, contact with victims, and possible violations of restraining orders outweighed personal and humanitarian concerns.

Høiby is currently facing nearly forty criminal charges, including allegations of rape, sexual assault, domestic violence, threats, and drug-related offences. He admitted to a number of minor offences during the trials but denied the most severe ones.

Family hardship is not greater than the seriousness of the case or public safety concerns, the judge ruled in rejecting his motion. In order to visit his critically ill mother, his legal team had argued that he should be granted a limited release from custody.

He has been in jail since February 2026, and the case is still in progress, with a final verdict due later in June 2026. The proceedings have received high profile in Norway due to his link to the royal family, but authorities have stated that the matter is being handled in accordance with conventional legal procedures and will not be treated differently.