Son of Norway's crown princess charged with rape and domestic violence

OSLO (Reuters) -The son of Norway's crown princess has been charged with rape, domestic violence, assault and other crimes following a year-long police investigation, a prosecutor said on Monday.

Marius Borg Hoiby, 28, son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson to Crown Prince Haakon, is expected to stand trial early next year and could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty of the most serious charges, the prosecutor said.

Hoiby denies the most serious accusations against him, but plans to plead guilty to some lesser charges in court when the trial starts, his lawyer Petar Sekulic told Reuters.

"He does not agree with the claims regarding rape and domestic violence," Sekulic said of his client.

Hoiby does not have a royal title and is outside the line of royal succession.

"It is up to the courts to hear this case and to reach a decision," the royal palace said in a statement.

Police in November 2024 held Hoiby in detention for one week as part of the investigation.

He was charged on Monday with 32 criminal offences, including one count of rape with sexual intercourse and three counts of rape without intercourse, some of which he filmed on his telephone, the prosecution said.

"It's up to the judges to decide if he is guilty," Prosecutor Sturla Henriksboe told a press conference.

Police in August last year named Hoiby as a suspect of physical assault against a woman with whom he had been in a relationship.

Hoiby, in a statement to the media at the time, admitted to causing bodily harm to the woman while he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol and of damaging her apartment. Hoiby said he regretted his acts.

Hoiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a relationship prior to her marriage in 2001 to Crown Prince Haakon, Norway's future king.

(Reporting by Terje Solsvik;Editing by Alison Williams)