Marius Borg Høiby denied release from custody as mother Crown Princess Mette‑Marit's health deteriorates

Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette‑Marit, remains in pre‑trial detention on multiple charges, including allegations of sexual assault and threats. He has been held in Oslo prison since early February, with repeated extensions of his custody on the basis of a significant risk of reoffending.

Following the announcement that his mother, Crown Princess Mette‑Marit, has been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant due to advanced chronic lung fibrosis, Høiby’s defence team filed a request for his release so he can attend family meetings concerning her health. Police lawyer Oda Karterud stated that the police will not release him on its own initiative, and the request has been forwarded to the Oslo District Court for a decision.

Høiby has also sought alternative custody arrangements, such as home detention with an ankle monitor, but the court has repeatedly rejected these proposals, citing the continued risk of repeat offenses. Members of the royal family, including Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, have visited him in prison. The court is expected to rule on the release request before the sentencing scheduled for 15 June.