UPDATED: King Harald V has finally made a public reference to the Norwegian Royal Family’s troublesome year so far. Then things got worse after news broke that Crown Princess Mette-Marit may be called in for police questioning in connection with the criminal charges against her son, whose own troubles also keep mounting.
Norwegian media reported on Thursday that Marius Borg Høiby, the crown princess’ son from a relationship before she met Crown Prince Haakon, no longer has a driving license or an unspecified type of weapon that had been in his possession. Høiby’s defense attorney Øyvind Bratlien told state broadcaster NRK that Høiby has lost his right to drive motorcycles, cars and even a truck “on the recommendation of a doctor.”
His right to have an unspecified type of weapon in his possession was also revoked, again apparently for health reasons. Bratlien wrote in a message to state broadcaster NRK that there’s been “great concern” tied to Høiby’s health and “how much he can tolerate” tied to the charges against him and the subsequent media coverage. Høiby was first arrested on August 4, after he’d been violent towards a former girlfriend and vandalized her apartment while admittedly under the influence of alcohol and cocaine. He has since been charged for abuse in close relationships, violence, vandalism, making threats and for frightening, reckless behaviour.
“Out of consideration for himself,” Bratlien wrote, both the weapon and his driving license are “no longer in his possession.” He added that Høiby agreed to both revocations.
Newspaper Aftenposten had already reported that Oslo Police confirmed the revocation of the driving license. Aftenposten further reported earlier in the week that the 27-year-old Høiby has also lost access to the secured area around the royal residence at Skaugum where he grew up and where his mother still lives with Crown Prince Haakon. Høiby has continued to live in a house on the crown couple’s royal estate at Skaugum in suburban Asker. His history of drug use, earlier warnings from police regarding some of his acquaintances and his recent arrests have raised concerns that he poses a security risk to the royal family.
The house still allocated to Høiby on the sprawling rural property lies a few hundred meters away from the main house where King Harald and Queen Sonja also lived before moving to the palace in Oslo in 2001. Crown Prince Haakon grew up there with them, and both he and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have lived at Skaugum since their marriage in August 2001, along with Høiby and later their own two children Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Ingrid Alexandra, now age 20, is currently serving in the military, in line with royal tradition. Sverre Magnus, age 19, recently moved to Trondheim but his plans after finishing high school remain unclear.
Aftenposten also reported that Crown Princess Mette-Marit, currently on sick leave, now may be called in for police questioning herself. The lawyer for another of her son’s former girlfriends, Julianne Snekkestad, confirmed on Monday that he has asked police to question Mette-Marit regarding her son’s behaviour towards Snekkestad during their nearly five-year relationship that ended in 2022.
“The situation regarding evidence in this case is such that we think it’s absolutely natural to get her (Mette-Marit’s) clarification now,” lawyer Petter J Grødem told Aftenposten. “We think it would actually be unnatural if she (Mette-Marit) doesn’t answer questions from police. We think a clarification from the crown princess will cast new light over the case against her son.”
Initial arrest tipped in advance
Mette-Marit has remained mum about the drama surrounding her son. Compaints have arisen that both she and her son appear to have had special treatment from the police, not least because both the crown couple, Høiby himself and government leaders were tipped about his initial arrest in early August.
Newspaper VG and NRK reported late last week that police had informed Norway’s state intelligence agency PST about the impending arrest, since it’s responsible for security around the royals and the government. PST in turn tipped the Royal Palace and palace officials finally confirmed on Friday that it had tipped the crown couple about the imminent arrest of Høiby.
Høiby himself was also alerted that he was about to be arrested, raising questions about whether any evidence may have been tampered with, but the palace claims police did not ransack his home. Høiby voluntarily turned over his mobile phone to police, who had routinely also tipped the justice ministry, which in turn notifed the Office of the Prime Minister about the arrest of the crown princess’ son.
Høiby, meanwhile, has earlier claimed that his former girlfriend Snekkestad was also violent towards him. “He’s completely turning the mirror, and my client will tell her own version if she’s called in for questionining regarding his complaints against her, which she fully rejects.”
Snekkestad herself recently spoke out publicly for the first time about what she simple called “the case,” but continued to avoid specifying what kind of violence she allegedly suffered. “I hope the truth comes out,” she said in a podcast hosted by a so-called “influencer” in Norway. “There are consequences for what you do, and you must take responsibility for what you do.”
Questions have arisen around how Høiby has been released from his arrests both times, and was allowed to travel to Italy just weeks after his first arrest. His second arrest took place at a mountain cabin where he’d been staying with friends.
Staff at the Royal Palace have declined most requests for comment on issues related to Marius Borg Høiby. His step-grandfather King Harald V, however, finally made a reference to all the turbulence that has swirled around his illness while on holiday in Malaysia earlier this year, his daughter Princess Martha Louise’s commercial exploitation of her title and her second wedding in August and the arrests of Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son.
The king, while hosting an annual banquet for Members of Parliament, claimed that “The Royal House (which consists of himself, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra) is a team that works well together. And we’re also a family, with the joys and challenges that we all know can come along. In both good and difficult times we try to stand together and support one another.”
He expressed gratitude for the support they’ve had “during this special and demanding year.” He added that “Now and then, life is very difficult. That’s something everyone can experience, also our family. When people we are fond of aren’t doing well, it hurts those around them. We try to take as good care of one another as we can.” Public support for the monarchy has nonetheless fallen, according to recent public opinion polls.
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
