An appeal court in Norway has overturned a lower court ruling that would have seen Marius Borg Høiby released from custody ahead of a verdict in his high-profile criminal trial, despite arguments that he should be allowed to support his seriously ill mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
The ruling, handed down by the Borgarting Court of Appeal in Oslo on Wednesday, means the 29-year-old son of the crown princess will remain behind bars until judges deliver their verdict next week. Høiby faces 40 criminal charges, including allegations of rape, violence, threats and abusive behaviour, many of which he denies.
His lawyers had successfully persuaded a district court on Monday that continued detention was no longer justified. The lower court concluded that while there remained a marginal risk of reoffending, Høiby had remained drug-free in prison and that keeping him in custody would be “disproportionately intrusive”.
However, the appeal court disagreed, finding that the risk of further offending had not materially changed since a previous ruling in May. Judges also cited concerns that Høiby could have contact with a former girlfriend at the centre of part of the prosecution case.
The decision comes as concern grows over the health of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. The 52-year-old was placed on a lung transplant waiting list last week after doctors said her condition had deteriorated significantly in recent months.
During proceedings, Høiby argued that being unable to support his mother during her illness was deeply distressing.
“Sitting inside when I know Mum is so sick is unbearable,” he told the district court.
His defence team maintained that his mother’s worsening health justified his temporary release. Following Wednesday’s ruling, defence lawyer Ellen Holager Andenæs said they were “very, very disappointed” and suggested the decision would be devastating for their client.
The case against Høiby began in August 2024 when he was arrested at the Oslo apartment of a former partner. Since then, prosecutors have brought a wide range of allegations, including four counts of rape. Høiby denies the rape accusations, although he has admitted several lesser offences, including drug possession and traffic-related crimes.
Prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of seven years and seven months if he is convicted.
The trial has attracted intense scrutiny in Norway and cast a shadow over the royal household. Although Høiby is not a member of the Norwegian royal family and has no constitutional role, he was raised alongside the children of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, after their marriage in 2001.
The crown prince and princess visited Høiby in prison last weekend after it emerged that Mette-Marit had been placed on the transplant waiting list. Their children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, also travelled to see him following their mother’s admission to hospital.
Høiby was briefly allowed to leave prison on Monday to attend a meeting with his mother’s medical team at the royal family’s Skaugum estate outside Oslo.
Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and incurable lung disease that causes scarring of the lungs, making breathing increasingly difficult. Last week, Mette-Marit’s consultant, Dr Are Holm of Oslo University Hospital, revealed that patients placed on the transplant waiting list are generally believed to have a life expectancy of less than a year without the procedure.
The illness has prompted rare public concern within Norway’s royal family. During an engagement on Tuesday, King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway were asked about the crown princess’s condition, with Queen Sonja responding simply: “The situation is serious.”
A verdict in Høiby’s trial is expected next Monday.
