Marius Borg Høiby Trial: Woman Claims She Was Drugged at Skaugum Palace

Norway’s Crown Princess Faces Scrutiny as Son’s Trial Unfolds

OSLO – The trial of Marius Borg Høiby, the 29-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is underway in Oslo, bringing with it allegations of sexual assault and a renewed focus on the royal family. Simultaneously, the Crown Princess is facing scrutiny over past correspondence with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The first alleged victim testified this week, recounting a night in December 2018 at the royal family’s Skaugum estate. The woman stated she has no recollection of events following consensual sexual activity at an “after-party,” but suspects she was drugged. During her testimony, she described a sense of “betrayal and shock” after police showed her videos allegedly depicting sexual assault. The court has viewed video footage showing the woman appearing unconscious on a sofa, with her undergarments partially removed.

Høiby denies four counts of rape but admits to 34 other charges, including transporting drugs and speeding. He has not been accused of drugging anyone, and maintains that any sexual contact was consensual, according to his defense team. When questioned directly by prosecutors about whether he had drugged the woman, Høiby responded, “I have never drugged anyone, as far as I know.”

The prosecution alleges that the woman was in a state where she was unable to defend herself “due to sleep and/or intoxication.” The defense countered that there is “no evidence” to support the claim of drugging, stating it is solely based on the woman’s account. Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø acknowledged the difficulty in proving the allegation given the passage of time, noting that investigators have been unable to confirm or deny the claim.

The trial is proceeding with significant media attention, with approximately 200 journalists present. Høiby appeared composed during the opening of the trial on Tuesday, quietly denying the most serious charges. He was briefly hospitalized after an alleged assault on Sunday, prior to the start of the trial.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, newly released documents have revealed extensive communication between Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014. The files, released by the US Department of Justice, show that the Crown Princess exchanged hundreds of messages with Epstein and even stayed at his Florida home for four days in 2013. In one email, she inquired about obtaining “two naked women carrying a surfboard” for her then-15-year-old son’s wallpaper. She also described Epstein as “very charming.”

The Crown Princess has expressed regret over her correspondence with Epstein, calling it “embarrassing” and acknowledging “poor judgment.” She postponed a private trip scheduled to take place this week, though the palace has not provided further details. The timing of the Epstein revelations coincides with her son’s trial, placing the royal family under intense public pressure.

Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, and her son was already four years old at the time. Høiby is not a member of the royal family or a public figure, but has grown up within the extended royal circle. The trial is expected to continue for several weeks, with numerous witnesses, video recordings, and other evidence to be presented.

The defense team has characterized the media coverage as a “witch hunt.” The court has restricted the publication of images of Høiby to protect the privacy of those involved.