His stepdad is a future king. His alleged crimes are horrendous.

Marius Borg Høiby grew up in the shadow of royalty.

He's the firstborn son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her former partner Morten Borg. When Mette-Marit remarried into the royal family, he became the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, the future King of Norway.

As his mother stepped into the royal spotlight in the early 2000s, the press dubbed her young son "Little Marius". The nickname stuck.

Now, at 28, Høiby is at the centre of a criminal case that's making headlines worldwide.

He's facing a string of serious charges, including rape, sexual assault, and bodily harm following a months-long investigation.

Police say the case involves a "double-digit" number of alleged victims.

Speaking on Friday, Oslo Police Attorney Andreas Kruszewski said the case was based on text messages, witness statements and evidence gathered through police searches.

Høiby has been under scrutiny since he was repeatedly arrested in 2024 amid allegations of rape and on preliminary charges of bodily harm and criminal damage.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Marius Borg Hoiby in 2015. Image: Getty.

Kruszewski said Høiby was cooperative during police questioning and confirmed the charges include one count of rape involving intercourse, two counts of rape without intercourse, four counts of sexual assault and two counts of bodily harm.

"I cannot go into further detail about the number of victims in the case beyond confirming that it is a double-digit number," he said.

Høiby's defence attorney Petar Sekulic told The Associated Press his client was "absolutely taking the accusations very seriously, but doesn't acknowledge any wrongdoing in most of the cases — especially the cases regarding sexual abuse and violence."

The Norwegian royal household has not publicly commented on the case.

Once a fixture in the palace alongside his royal half-siblings, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, Høiby now lives in a separate home near the family's residence, according to Sekulic.

He remains free pending a possible trial and, like anyone facing criminal charges, is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise.

This case has captivated Norway, not just because of the seriousness of the charges, but because of Høiby's connection to one of Europe's most famed royal families.

When his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, she made headlines around the world as a single mum with a complicated past, including a former partner with a drug conviction. Høiby does not hold a royal title.

More to come as this case develops.

-with AAP

Feature image: AAP.