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After an investigation, which closed in June,<\/a> the Norwegian Public Prosecutor\u2019s Office officially indicted Marius Borg H\u00f8iby,<\/strong> the eldest son of Princess<\/strong> Mette-Marit of Norway.<\/strong> The 28-year-old, the future queen consort\u2019s son with ex-partner Morten Borg,<\/strong> is facing an indictment for 32 offenses, including four for rape, one with sexual intercourse and three without. [Editor\u2019s Note: In Norway, the crime of rape also includes incomplete sexual acts committed against a victim who is unable to resist.]<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cThe maximum penalty for the crimes listed in the indictment is imprisonment for up to 10 years,\u201d said state attorney Sturla Henriksb\u00f8<\/strong> in a press conference<\/a>, stressing the seriousness of the situation. \u201cIt is not relevant to arrest him now until new circumstances emerge that make it necessary,\u201d he continued, adding that no member of the royal family will be called to testify in the criminal case against H\u00f8iby. \u201cMy assessment is that there are no members of the royal family who have been in a place or have been in contact with the accused or the injured parties in a way that makes it essential to have them as witnesses in the case, or who can shed light on the case better than we can with the evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n However, some former guards from Skaugum Castle, the official residence of Princess Mette-Marit and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon,<\/strong> the future king, may be questioned. Marius himself lived there until a few months ago, when he reportedly moved to an outbuilding after he and some guests he hosted in the palace\u2019s cellars were accused of theft<\/a>.<\/p>\n In addition to the more serious charges, Marius Borg H\u00f8iby was also alleged to have committed lesser offenses, such as driving without a license, vandalism, and violating a restraining order.<\/p>\n The young man\u2019s trial could begin as early as January, but he has no intention of pleading guilty to the most serious charges, according to his attorney, Petar Sekulik.<\/strong> \u201cOur client denies all allegations of sexual abuse, as well as most allegations of violence,\u201d Sekulik said in a statement to the New York Post.<\/em><\/a> \u201cHe will present a detailed account of his version of events before the court.\u201d<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Prince Haakon told reporters, \u201cWe will continue to carry out our duties as best we can, as we always do.\u201d He added, \u201cEveryone involved in this case probably finds it challenging and difficult.\u201d The Norwegian palace told Norwegian broadcaster NRK<\/em><\/a>,<\/em> \u201cIt is up to the courts to hear this case and reach a decision.\u201d In November 2024<\/a>, Prince Haakon told NRK<\/em> that the case was solely the responsibility of the authorities. \u201cMarius is facing serious charges, which the police and the judiciary will deal with,\u201d he said. \u201cI am confident that they will do a good job.\u201d<\/p>\n The prosecutor said that H\u00f8iby will not be given preferential treatment. \u201cThe fact that he is a member of the royal family should not, of course, mean that he should be treated more lightly or more severely than if others had committed similar acts,\u201d Henriksbo emphasized.<\/p>\n