Crown Princess' Son Arrested Before Rape Trial, Epstein Ties Revealed

Norway's royal family faces a double scandal as the crown princess' son stands trial for rape and her ties to Jeffrey Epstein are exposed.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has been arrested on new charges of assault, knife threats, and violating restraining orders just hours before his rape trial was set to begin. Meanwhile, newly released documents show that Mette-Marit's name appeared between 500 and 1,000 times in Jeffrey Epstein's files, raising questions about the extent of her association with the disgraced financier.

Why it matters

The arrest of the crown princess' son and the revelations about her ties to Epstein have dealt a major blow to the reputation of Norway's royal family, which has long prided itself on its accessibility and democratic values. The scandals raise questions about the judgment of those in power and whether accountability applies equally to the royal family.

The details

Høiby's indictment includes four alleged rapes between 2018 and 2024, as well as charges of abuse in close relationships, violence against former partners, death threats, drug trafficking, and traffic violations. Two former girlfriends have restraining orders against him, which he is accused of violating. Meanwhile, the palace has confirmed that Mette-Marit's name appeared between 500 and 1,000 times in Epstein's files, and that she stayed at his Palm Beach mansion in 2013. The palace has called her association with Epstein 'embarrassing' and an example of 'poor judgment'.

  • Marius Borg Høiby was arrested just hours before his rape trial was set to begin on February 15, 2026.
  • Newly released documents showing Mette-Marit's ties to Jeffrey Epstein were made public on January 31, 2026.

The players

Marius Borg Høiby

The son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who is facing trial on charges of rape, assault, and other violent crimes.

Mette-Marit

The Crown Princess of Norway, whose name appeared between 500 and 1,000 times in Jeffrey Epstein's files and who stayed at his Palm Beach mansion in 2013.

Crown Prince Haakon

The Crown Prince of Norway, who has stated that neither he nor Mette-Marit will attend Høiby's trial or offer commentary, emphasizing that his stepson faces the same rights and responsibilities as any Norwegian citizen.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Mette-Marit issued a statement calling her Epstein association 'embarrassing' and 'poor judgment,' echoing regrets she first expressed in 2019 when his crimes became impossible to ignore.”

— Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway (theconservativebrief.com)

What’s next

The judge in Marius Borg Høiby's case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

The scandals surrounding Marius Borg Høiby's rape trial and Mette-Marit's ties to Jeffrey Epstein have dealt a major blow to the reputation of Norway's royal family, raising questions about the judgment of those in power and whether accountability applies equally to the royal family.