Police in Oslo have charged the now-27-year-old son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Marius Borg Høiby, with both assault and vandalism after being called last weekend to an address in Oslo’s affluent Frogner district. Crown Prince Haakon called the charges “serious” in a brief meeting with reporters Wednesday afternoon.
“It is a serious case when the police are involved,” said Crown Prince Haakon, who’s attending the Olympics in Paris this week. His wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was supposed to be at the Olympics with him, but suddenly cancelled the trip earlier this week.
On Tuesday, magazine Se og Hør and newspaper VG could report why: The crown princess’ son from a short relationship before she met Crown Prince Haakon in the late 1990s had been charged with violence against another person who hasn’t been formally identified. Police were called to the residence in Frogner Sunday morning after the alleged violence during the night. Høiby was taken into custody and released later on Sunday.
On Wednesday came news that he’s also been charged with skadeverk (willfull destruction of property, vandalism) in what’s now become a criminal case against a member of Norway’s extended royal family. Police haven’t released the address where the violence and vandalism allegedly occurred, or confirmed whether it’s the residence of Høiby and a partner.
The Norwegian press rarely identifies people charged with crimes until they’re convicted. In this case, though, VG concluded that since Høiby is the son of Norway’s crown princess and future queen, the case is a matter of public interest “even though identifying him will be a burden for Høiby and those close to him.”
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) and other Norwegian media quickly followed up with their own reports. Staff at the Royal Palace refused to answer questions or comment on Høiby’s arrest, referring all questions to Høiby’s defense attorney Øyvind Bratlien. He also refused to comment apart from telling various media that his first priority was “to take care of my client. It’s also important for us to respect the other side in the case.” Bratlien added that he wasn’t yet fully briefed on the full contents of the charges.
Nor was Crown Prince Haakon, who told reporters that he didn’t think it was correct for him to “get into the details.” He said he was concerned about the case, “but now I’m here (in Paris) to cheer for our team at the Olympics. There are fantastic presentations being made here.”
The crown prince said he wasn’t sure whether his wife, the crown princess, would be joining him in Paris. “As in all families, it’s important to be there (with her son),” he said. “So we decided that this time, she should stay home.” Her oldest son has never had any official duties and no official role or title in the royal family, but he has shown up at celebrity events and been active on social media. Now he’s plunged the family into a new crisis.
NRK reported that it’s also important to report on the matter because it’s the first time a member of Norway’s extended royal family has been charged with a crime. NRK also noted how the crown couple earlier has shown support for victims of violence, and even visited crisis centers who look after victims of domestic violence.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
