It’s a turbulent time for the Norwegian royal family. While King Harald of Norway remains hospitalized in southern Tenerife due to “an infection and dehydration” during his winter getaway on the island, a separate drama continues to unfold back home, both at the Royal Palace and inside Oslo District Court.
On day 14 of the 28-day trial of Marius Borg Høiby, accused of 28 charges (of which he has admitted 24 while pleading not guilty to four counts of rape), a bombshell revelation has emerged, one witness claimed that during a key party, the very night one of the alleged assaults occurred, Marius allegedly spoke about having a son.
The courtroom revelations:
Last Friday, in courtroom 250, the case focused on an incident at a Grønland, Oslo hotel in November 2024. Marius Borg Høiby, denying any criminal responsibility, is accused of sexually assaulting a woman he met that same night.
Among the witnesses called was the friend of the alleged victim. According to their testimony, Marius supposedly spoke about fatherhood, even showing a photo of his child.
© picture alliance“He shared details about his difficult childhood, talked about his son, and showed pictures of him—things that made her trust him,” the friend testified. Norwegian press reports clarified that this witness was not present at the party itself, so the account comes from conversations with his friend the following day.
Silence from the Palace:
The story only broke this Wednesday because Norwegian media had been unsure whether the information could be publicly reported. VG ultimately published, noting that the testimony was given in open court with press and public present, and no reporting restrictions were imposed.
© HAKON MOSVOLD LARSENVG also reached out to the Royal Palace for comment. A spokesperson, Guri Varpe, stated, “Questions regarding the lawsuit should be addressed to Marius Borg Høiby. We do not speak on his behalf,” reinforcing a longstanding pattern of deflecting inquiries about the prince’s son.
Marius’s legal team also stayed mum, saying, “This information is unknown to us, and we caution against spreading such rumors.” Attempts to get a response from the alleged victim and her friend were also met with silence.
© LISE ASERUDInvestigations and unanswered questions:
VG’s investigation extended to Norway’s Police Security Service (PST), which protects the royal family, to determine whether this alleged paternity might have affected threat assessments. PST declined to comment.
Court procedures sometimes include questions about child support obligations. But so far, the Oslo District Court has not asked Marius directly about children. Reports indicate that in a September 2024 interrogation, Marius denied having any children.
© OLE BERG-RUSTENVG concluded cautiously, “Sources central to the case indicate knowledge of a child, but VG cannot confirm whether one actually exists.” The witness referenced a child and even photos, yet there is no external confirmation. The existence of this alleged son remains unverified.
A Royal family under pressure:
As investigations continue surrounding Princess Mette-Marit’s alleged links to the Epstein case, the possibility of Marius having a secret child adds another layer of complexity.
If the child exists, they are a minor, creating yet another sensitive factor in a legal saga testing both Norwegian journalistic ethics and the royal family’s ability to navigate a crisis of unprecedented scale.
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