This file court sketch depicts Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, during the third day of a trial in Oslo at the District Court on 5 February 2026.

• Marius Borg Høiby’s defence lawyers called for him to be acquitted of charges of raping four women.
• They also sought an 18-month sentence for lesser offences.
• Høiby is the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

Defence lawyers for the son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit called Thursday for him to be acquitted of charges of raping four women, and sought an 18-month sentence for lesser offences.

Marius Borg Høiby, the princess’ 29-year-old son from a relationship before her 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, has been on trial since February on 40 counts that carry a maximum sentence of 16 years in prison.

Prosecutors had on Wednesday asked the court to sentence Høiby, who does not formally belong to the royal household, to seven years and seven months behind bars.

On the last day of the trial on Thursday, lawyer Petar Sekulic said that while his client may have acted in an “unpleasant” manner, his actions were not necessarily criminal.

READ | Seven-year term sought for Norway princess’ son for alleged rapes

The alleged rapes all took place after nights of partying, during which Høiby had consumed alcohol and drugs, and following consensual sex.

The prosecution has said they allegedly took place while the women were asleep or passed out, including one in the basement of the residence of the crown prince couple while they were home.

For the rape charges, the main question for the court to decide will be whether or not the women were in a condition to consent to having sex.

Concerning those incidents, which Høiby is also accused of filming or photographing, Sekulic questioned the alleged victims’ credibility and highlighted circumstances that may have led Høiby to either believe he had their tacit consent or not understand they were asleep.

‘Regime of fear’

Regarding the allegations of abuse, the defence rejected the prosecution’s claim that one of his ex-girlfriends had been subjected to a “regime of fear”.

Sekulic described a turbulent relationship characterised by jealousy and heated arguments on both sides.

Høiby, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to some of the lesser charges, including transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana, physical assault, and issuing threats.

The defence called for an 18-month sentence for those offences.

However, if the judges were to find Høiby guilty on all counts, the sentence should not exceed “five to six years” behind bars, his lawyers said.

The scandal - which has seriously damaged the Norwegian monarchy’s image - erupted on 4 August 2024, when police arrested Høiby on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend the night before.

The investigation into that incident uncovered a slew of other suspected offences, as video footage and pictures on his phone and laptop depicted what police believed could be rapes, and for which he was charged.

The verdict will be announced in early June, Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad said.