Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon has addressed reports that his stepson, Marius Borg Høiby, 27, was arrested following an “incident in an apartment” on Sunday, August 4.
Currently in Paris for the Olympic Games, the Crown Prince described the situation as a “serious matter” and confirmed that his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, remained at home with their son.
“In our family, as in any family, it’s sometimes important to be present,” he said. “This time, it was me who traveled while she stayed at home.” The Norwegian palace had previously announced that Crown Princess Mette-Marit would “postpone her departure to Paris for the time being.”
The Crown Prince did not address specifics of the case but noted, “It is a serious matter when the police are involved, as they are. However, I do not think it is appropriate for me to involve myself in the case at this time.”
Marius was reportedly held in police custody for over 30 hours before being released on Monday afternoon. He faces preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage after allegedly attacking a woman in her 20s.
Marius is the eldest son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from her previous relationship with convicted felon Morten Borg. He is not in line for the Norwegian throne and withdrew from public life in 2017 to pursue studies in the US.
Mette-Marit met the Crown Prince at a festival, and they married in 2001. They have since welcomed two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.
In an open letter published on the palace’s website when Marius moved to America, Mette-Marit reflected on her son: “I was 23 years old and took on a significant responsibility. It has been the greatest gift of my life. Marius has always had a role that is difficult to define in the public sphere. He is, and will always be, an exceptionally important part of our family. Marius symbolizes the unusual choice we made when we married; however, he will not have public duties like his siblings. He should not have a public role and is not a public figure.”
