AFP, Oslo

An Oslo court yesterday sentenced Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son to four years in prison on two counts of rape and other offences, in a high-profile scandal that has rocked the monarchy.

Marius Borg Hoiby, 29, Mette-Marit’s son from a relationship prior to her 2001 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, was accused of 40 charges, from rape to traffic violations, carrying a maximum possible sentence of 16 years in prison.

One of the rapes for which he was convicted took place at the crown prince couple’s official residence in 2018. Hoiby, who is not formally part of the royal household and has no steady job, was acquitted of two other counts of rape, and convicted of repeated domestic abuse against an ex-girlfriend, traffic violations, issuing threats and other offences.

The prosecution had asked for a seven-year jail term.

Hoiby had denied the most serious allegations, including the rape charges which the prosecution said took place while the women were asleep or unconscious, and the domestic abuse charge.

His defence team had called for him to serve 18 months for the other charges to which he pleaded guilty, including transporting 3.5 kilos of marijuana, physical assaults and threats.

Hoiby, who has been in custody since February 1, was not present in court yesterday for unspecified medical reasons, but appeared by video link.

The only rape victim present in the courtroom shed tears when the judge read out a guilty verdict in her case. The trial, held February 3 to March 19, laid bare the life of excess lived by Hoiby, who was thrust into the public eye at the age of three when his mother’s romance with the crown prince began.