The trial of Marius Borg Høiby, son of Norway's crown princess, has heard the first account from a woman he is alleged to have raped at a party in 2018.
The woman told the court in tears she had no recollection of what had happened, after an earlier sexual encounter that lasted a matter of seconds.
Facing 38 charges against him, Marius Borg Høiby pleaded not guilty to raping four women and other serious offences but admitted breaking a restraining order, transporting marijuana and speeding while partly admitting threats and aggravated assault.
He is due to take the stand for the first time in the trial on Wednesday afternoon.
Although he has grown up as Crown Prince Haakon's stepson, Marius Borg Høiby is not a member of the royal family or a public figure.
However, the first count of rape is alleged to have taken place in his parents' basement on their Skaugum estate outside Oslo.
As the trial began at Oslo district court, the palace came under increasing pressure to explain the Crown Princess's three-year exchange of messages with the late sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit has already admitted to poor judgement, after details emerged of a four-day stay at his home in Palm Beach, Miami.
No photos were allowed as her son entered courtroom 250 at Oslo district court at the start of a seven-week trial.
Marius, dressed modestly, fiddled with a bracelet, speaking quietly as he pleaded not guilty to raping four women.
Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø stated that despite his royal connections, Høiby would be treated like any other Norwegian in the process.
Heavy court restrictions have been imposed on the trial, with a ban on photos of the defendant or the women he is alleged to have raped inside or outside court.
The trial's proceedings are expected to raise further questions about the royal family's current standing, particularly in light of their recent controversies.
