He grew up in Norway's royal family. Now he is going to prison for rape.

Marius Borg Høiby, the son of the crown princess, was sentenced to four years in prison after a court found him guilty of two counts of rape.

When a family member of a royal house is accused of serious crimes, the trust of an entire nation is put on trial. That is the reality facing Norway today as a young man who grew up in the palace goes to prison.

WHAT HAPPENED

Marius Borg Høiby is the 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit. A court in Oslo has found him guilty of two counts of rape.

The court also convicted him of abusing an ex-partner and hurting another woman. He did not attend the court in person due to health reasons, but he watched the session on video.

His mother is very sick with a lung disease and is waiting for a transplant. Høiby's lawyers tried to get him released from prison to see her, but the judges refused because they said he might contact his victims.

WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS

He must pay 640,000 kroner to four of the women.

• Police found video clips on his phone that proved the victims were asleep or unable to resist.
• The judges cleared him of two other counts of rape due to lack of proof.
• One rape took place on the Crown Prince's estate in 2018, and another in Oslo in 2024.
• He was also convicted of abusing his ex-girlfriend, online star Nora Haukland.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

How can a royal family stay close to its people when one of its own violates the law so deeply? This case has shaken the trust of Norwegian citizens in their leaders.

It also shows a hard truth about how courts handle sexual assault. Many people in Norway are angry because most rape cases there never end in a conviction.

THE OTHER SIDE

Høiby's lawyers, Petar Sekulic and Ellen Holager Andenæs, said he denied all four rape charges. They are pleased he was cleared of two of the counts, but they plan to appeal the prison sentence.

Given that the police found videos of the incidents on his own phone, the defense's argument to clear him completely appears very weak.

WHAT HAPPENS NOW

Høiby will stay in Ila prison while his lawyers work on his appeal. This case will continue to cast a shadow over the royal house of Norway.

Regular citizens are watching to see if the family will get special treatment, especially as the Crown Princess waits for a major lung operation.

WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW

How will this scandal affect the future of the Norwegian royal family?

• What other evidence was on the phone that police have not made public?