A year and a half after Marius Borg Høiby was arrested by police over a violent episode at a woman's flat in Oslo, the son of Norway's crown princess is going on trial in the biggest case to come to court here for years.
The seven-week trial opens at Oslo district court today against a backdrop of almost daily revelations surrounding him and his mother, Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
On the eve of the trial, it emerged that the 29-year-old had been detained again under similar circumstances, on suspicion of assault, threats with a knife, and violations of a restraining order.
As he has been remanded in custody for four weeks, Marius starts the trial behind bars.
His defense team plans to appeal against the remand ruling. Criticism is also directed at Crown Princess Mette-Marit following the revelation of her extensive previous communications with Jeffrey Epstein, a deceased convicted sex offender, leading one organization to revoke her patronage.
The trial imposes strict restrictions on Marius, including a ban on publishing any images of him or identifying the four women involved in allegations against him.
The royal family has opted to stay away from the proceedings as public and media attention mounts across Norway and internationally.
Marius, while born before his mother's marriage to the Crown Prince, is considered a close family member but does not hold a royal title or public status.
The court proceedings proceed under heavy scrutiny as King Harald and Queen Sonja will be attending the Winter Olympics in Italy during this crisis, reflecting the isolation felt by Crown Prince Haakon's stepson.
Marius faces an alarming array of 38 charges, including multiple counts of rape and assault. He has denied most allegations while admitting to lesser offenses, including physical abuse.
The implications of this trial and its surrounding controversy present a significant challenge for the royal family, as Mette-Marit deals with ongoing health issues and growing public discontent regarding her past relationships and choices.
