Oslo court orders release of Crown Princess' son Marius Borg Høiby pending appeal

An Oslo district court granted Marius Borg Høiby’s request to be released from pre‑trial detention so he can be with his mother, Crown Princess Mette‑Marit, who is suffering from severe lung fibrosis and awaits a transplant. The judges said continued incarceration would be a “very burdensome” violation of both his and his mother’s privacy and health, noting the low risk of re‑offending.

Prosecutors immediately filed an appeal, so Høiby remains in custody until a higher court reviews the decision. He faces a rape trial in which the prosecution seeks a sentence of seven years and seven months, while his defence argues that the circumstances of his mother’s illness justify his release. Høiby told the court, “Being inside while Mom is so ill is unbearable.”

The case has attracted widespread media attention because of the royal family involvement and the serious criminal charges.