Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit Faces Family Scandal

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, already in the spotlight for her past communications with Jeffrey Epstein, is now caught in another family controversy. This time, her son has been arrested just before a significant rape trial.

Marius Borg Højby, at 29 years old, was taken into custody on Sunday night on charges including assault, making threats with a knife, and breaching a restraining order, according to Norwegian police.

On Monday, the Oslo District Court ordered Højby to be held for up to four weeks. Nevertheless, he is scheduled to attend a hearing on Tuesday where he will face multiple charges, including the alleged rape of four women.

The incident on Sunday reportedly involved Højby and another individual, whose name has not been disclosed. Both are expected to give statements to the police later this week, as their legal representatives informed. Højby’s lawyer, Petar Sekulić, mentioned that they are appealing his detention.

Despite not being a public figure, Højby faces serious allegations, tallying up to 38 counts that include the rape of four women who were incapacitated, as well as assault and intimidation towards his girlfriend.

If he is found guilty, he could face over a decade in prison.

Højby is the child of Mette-Marit and Morten Borg, a man with a troubled past, notably a convicted drug offender who faced multiple arrests for cocaine possession in the 1990s. Borg has stated that he did not have a relationship with Mette-Marit but had a known stake in Oslo’s nightlife. Interestingly, he was reportedly imprisoned in 1998, the same year Højby was born.

Before meeting Crown Prince Haakon, Mette-Marit had been roommates with Borg.

The Crown Princess has had her share of controversy since marrying into the royal family back in 2001, and she has recently been absent from public life due to a chronic lung disease.

In light of her son’s arrest, Mette-Marit faced renewed criticism over the weekend after flirtatious emails she exchanged with Epstein were made public. She expressed her remorse for not investigating his background more thoroughly and not recognizing his true character sooner.

Neither Mette-Marit nor Prince Haakon is expected to be present at Højby’s trial.

The negative focus on the royal family doesn’t just stop with Mette-Marit’s side, as Haakon’s sister, Princess Martha Louise, is also facing scrutiny following her marriage to American Durek Verret, who has labeled himself a shaman.