Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s Son Granted Brief Release to See Ill Mother

Marius Borg Høiby, 29, the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been held in investigation detention since February on charges that include several alleged rapes and domestic violence, with prosecutors seeking a sentence of more than seven years.

Following the princess’s worsening lung fibrosis – she has been placed on a lung‑transplant waiting list and is currently receiving oxygen support – Høiby’s lawyer petitioned for his release. Prison authorities offered a “visiting” arrangement, allowing him to leave the facility for a few hours under police escort to attend a meeting with specialists about his mother’s health. The Oslo district court will consider further release requests, with a verdict scheduled for 15 June.

The royal family has been visible during the crisis: half‑sister Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus visited Høiby in prison, and the princess’s condition has drawn public attention across Norway.