Marius Borg Høiby on the witness stand at the Oslo District Court. Image: keystone
Marius Borg Høiby will lose a privilege in the ongoing trial against him: he will no longer be allowed to spend interruptions in the court break room in the future.
Feb 13, 2026, 8:02 p.mFeb 13, 2026, 8:14 p.m
Robin Schmidt / t-online
The Norwegian police have ended a special arrangement for Marius Borg Høiby in the ongoing proceedings. The 29-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, like other pre-trial prisoners, now has to spend the court breaks in a cell in the basement, as the Norwegian newspaper “Nettavisen” reports.
Previously, the defendant was allowed to stay in a break room at the back of the courtroom during breaks. His defense lawyer Ellen Holager Andenæs explained that this exemption was granted for health reasons.
The police justify the decision by saying that the previous regulation took up too many resources. According to his lawyer, the new situation puts considerable strain on her client.
Høiby has been standing before the Oslo District Court since February 3rd. There are 38 charges against him, including rape, assault and criminal damage. On the eighth day of the trial, he appeared emotional: When the prosecutor repeatedly asked questions about his cocaine consumption, he responded by saying that he was “so damn tired of the question.”
Strict rules not just for Marius Borg Høiby
A total of 24 days of negotiations over seven weeks are scheduled for the trial. The verdict is expected on March 19th. The court has set strict rules for media representatives to protect the privacy of everyone involved.
The royal family had previously stated that they did not want any special treatment during prison visits because Marius was first and foremost a citizen and not officially a member of the royal family. The 29-year-old comes from a previous relationship of the Crown Princess.
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