Royal drama in Norway
The Crown Princess Mette‑Marit has been placed on a lung transplant waiting list after her pulmonary fibrosis worsened, and doctors say she may only have a year to live.
Her 29‑year‑old son, Marius Borg Høiby, remains in custody. He faces a verdict next Monday on 40 criminal charges, including four rape allegations, for which prosecutors seek a seven‑year jail term.
An appeal court rejected Høiby's request for release, citing a steady risk of re‑offending and the necessity of keeping him in custody pending the pending verdict.
Høiby, not a royal family member but raised close to the crown family, was released temporarily for a meeting with his mother’s doctor and later visited by his mother’s relatives, adding a personal touch to the case in the public eye.
The case has spiked social media interest and cast a shadow over the Norwegian royal household, especially after revelations of the Crown Princess’s past friendships with a now‑controversial figure.
