When Marius Borg Høiby stands up in room 250 at Oslo district court on Tuesday, at the start of Norway's biggest trial in years, he will have no moral support from his closest relatives. His mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit will not be there, nor will the man she married when her son was four - the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon.
For the next seven weeks, there will be no pictures of the blond 29-year-old either inside the court or outside - the court has banned them - but the world's press is here in numbers, and the Norwegian palace is keeping well away.
Høiby is accused of 38 charges, including the rape of four women, assaulting and threatening a girlfriend, and damaging her flat, as well as drug charges and driving offenses. If found guilty, he could face more than 10 years in jail.
The palace stresses Høiby is not part of the royal family and that he is not a public figure. But he is considered a close member of the family, by his stepfather the Crown Prince, who sees him as a son, and by Norway's much-loved King Harald V, 88, who he has known for much of his life as his grandfather.
It's a very dangerous moment, because the royal family should be role models. This sentiment has been echoed by Ulf Andre Andersen, who first reported the emerging allegations surrounding Høiby in early August 2024.
Høiby has admitted some of the lesser offenses and has acknowledged physical abuse and destruction of property. The indictment alleges he tore down a chandelier, threw a knife at the wall, and shattered a mirror, while verbally abusing his girlfriend.
The trial is expected to conclude with testimonies from several women, including former girlfriend and social influencer Nora Haukland, who alleged serious physical abuse from Høiby.
Crown Prince Haakon expressed support for both Høiby and the victims ahead of the trial, emphasizing the difficulty of the situation for everyone involved.
Overall, this scandal represents a critical test of the royal family's public image amidst growing scrutiny and calls for accountability.
