Norway Crown Princess’s Son Charged with Bodily Harm and Criminal Damage

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The eldest son of Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit is under suspicion for causing bodily harm and criminal damage, Oslo police said Wednesday.

Marius Borg Høiby is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon, and is the son of Mette-Marit from a previous relationship. He has no royal title or official duties.

On Sunday, officers responded to a disturbance in downtown Oslo and a man in his 20s was briefly detained. Police have confirmed it was Borg Høiby, 27, who faces preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage, one stage short of formal charges, and was released.

Details were unclear but police said there was “a relationship between the suspect and the victim.” In a statement, officers said they “currently do not have information that the victim has suffered serious injuries.”

The case was top news in Norway where the royals are popular.

Norwegian news agency NTB said that Mette-Marit had postponed a planned trip to attend the Olympic Games in Paris while her husband Haakon traveled to the French capital. The reason for the postponement was not given.

In Paris, Haakon told Norwegian reporters that “it is a serious matter when the police are involved in the way they are, but at the same time it is not right for me to go into the details of the case.”

Borg Høiby lives with the royal couple and their two children — Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

Norway’s future queen made headlines in 2001 when she married Haakon, because she was a single mother who had lived a freewheeling life with a companion who had been convicted on drug charges.

The incident puts a spotlight on Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s eldest son. Despite not having royal titles or official responsibilities, being part of such a high-profile family attracts public attention.

The Oslo police’s quick action illustrates the severity of the accusations Borg Høiby is potentially facing. While the specifics are still murky, the involvement of both the suspect and the victim in what appears to be a personal matter adds a layer of complexity to the case.

As the investigation continues, the Norwegian public remains keenly interested, largely due to the popularity of the royal family. This case brings a mixture of sentiment and curiosity, demonstrating the hold the royalty has on the nation’s consciousness.

Crown Prince Haakon’s brief statement from Paris reflects the gravity with which the family is treating the situation, balancing public transparency with a respect for privacy as the details unfold.

The turn of events also brings to mind the public’s initial reaction to Mette-Marit’s entry into the royal family in 2001. Her past and the unconventional circumstances of her initial relationship highlighted the royal family’s evolving image at the time.

This current issue seems to echo that earlier period of scrutiny and public interest, reminding people how personal histories and current events often intersect in the lives of public figures.

It remains to be seen how this situation will develop and what impact it might have on public perceptions of the royal family and its extended members.

Source: AP News, NTB