Sat Dec 07 08:55:04 UTC 2024: ## Norwegian Royal Family Rocked by Unprecedented Scandal

**Oslo, Norway** – The Norwegian royal family is facing its worst crisis in history, fueled by a string of serious allegations against Marius Borg Høiby, the 27-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Since August, Høiby has been embroiled in a series of legal issues, including assault, death threats, and multiple rape accusations.

Høiby, who has no official royal role, was initially arrested in August for assaulting his girlfriend, a crime he admitted was fueled by alcohol and cocaine. However, the scandal has rapidly escalated. Two former girlfriends have since come forward with assault allegations, and police are investigating claims of death threats, violation of a restraining order, and two rapes, with a third possible sex crime also under scrutiny. In November, Høiby’s detention for a week on rape allegations marked an unprecedented event for a member of the Norwegian royal family. While police have yet to press charges beyond the initial assault and death threats, the ongoing investigations cast a long shadow over the monarchy.

This crisis follows a challenging year for the royal family, described by columnist Sigrid Hvidsten as an “annus horribilis.” Criticism surrounding Princess Martha Louise’s August wedding to American self-proclaimed shaman Durek Verrett further damaged the family’s public image. The couple’s use of her royal title for commercial purposes, including deals with Hello! magazine and Netflix, sparked controversy and fueled negative press. Public support for the monarchy has dropped from 81% in 2017 to 62% in September. Adding to the family’s woes, 87-year-old King Harald has experienced several health issues, including a serious infection requiring medical repatriation earlier this year.

Despite the setbacks, experts believe the monarchy will weather the storm, as long as the scandals remain largely confined to peripheral members. King Harald, Queen Sonja, and Crown Prince Haakon remain immensely popular, and republican sentiment remains comparatively low. Author Tor Bomann-Larsen suggests that the monarchy is secure as long as its core members maintain public support. The Høiby scandal, however, undeniably represents the most significant challenge to the Norwegian monarchy in recent history.

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