Norwegian court keeps crown princess's son in custody despite mother's serious illness

The Oslo appeals court on June 10 reversed a district court ruling from Monday that had granted Marius Borg Høiby temporary release from custody on compassionate grounds, citing his mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit's deteriorating health. Høiby has been held since February 1, 2026, and faces 40 criminal charges including four counts of rape involving women who were asleep or incapacitated, as well as charges of violence, threats, and abusive behavior within relationships — all of which he denies — along with lesser charges such as drug possession and traffic offenses, which he has admitted. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of seven years and seven months, with the maximum possible sentence being 16 years. The appeals court found that the risk of reoffending was "virtually unchanged" and specifically cited concern that Høiby could make contact with a key complainant, referred to as the "Frogner woman." The court also noted that Høiby's situation was not unique, as other detainees also have seriously ill family members and would not receive special treatment. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, 52, was diagnosed with a rare incurable form of pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, and her lung specialist stated last week that patients are placed on the transplant list when they are believed to have less than a year to live. The case has significantly damaged the Norwegian royal family's public image, compounded by earlier revelations of Mette-Marit's correspondence with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014.