On June 15, 2026, a court in Oslo, Norway will announce whether Marius Borg Høiby is guilty or not guilty of 38 criminal charges. Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit. He was arrested in August 2024, according to BBC News. The charges include rape and domestic violence. The alleged crimes happened over six years, from 2018 to 2024, and involve multiple women. When his trial began in February 2026, he said he was not guilty of all charges, Reuters reported.

This is a very serious case. In Norway, the maximum punishment for rape is 21 years in prison, though actual sentences are usually shorter. The trial is taking place at Oslo District Court, which handles the most serious crimes in the capital. If either side disagrees with the verdict, they can appeal to a higher court.

The case gets extra attention because of who Høiby's mother is. Crown Princess Mette-Marit is married to Crown Prince Haakon, who will be king one day. Høiby himself is not in line to be king — he is Mette-Marit's son from a previous relationship — but the case has still drawn a lot of public interest in how the royal family is handling it. The law says the monarchy is separate from criminal court cases, but public opinion does not always follow the rules.

Norway's courts work differently from courts in many other countries. The verdict will not come from just one judge. Instead, both professional judges and ordinary citizens called lay judges will decide the case together. The court must explain in writing why it reached its decision, which matters because Høiby faces so many separate charges.

It took about 22 months from when Høiby was arrested to when the trial began. That long wait is normal in Norway when a case involves multiple victims and allegations over many years. Prosecutors and defence lawyers both needed time to gather evidence and prepare.

When the court announces its verdict on June 15, it will decide on each charge one by one. Høiby could be found guilty of some charges, all of them, or none of them. In Norway, if he is found not guilty, prosecutors can still appeal. The same goes if he is convicted — his lawyers can also appeal. So this verdict might not be the final word.