She was Norway's most controversial royal bride. Her son's charges bring new scandal.

There were big, terrible headlines that followed the engagement and subsequent marriage of American actress Meghan Markle and potential heir to the British throne, Prince Harry. Post Meg-xit, the scrutiny and negativity only increased. 

There was racism regarding the former actress' mixed-race background. There was prejudice surrounding her previous divorce. Of particular concern to the Brits, there was the fact she is American (heaven forbid).

But – as journalist Anna Byrne at the Herald Sun pointed out – the turmoil Meghan, 43, faced wanes in comparison to the ordeal suffered by Mette-Marit, the Crown Princess of Norway.

And as the news breaks that Marius Borg Høiby — Mette-Marit's eldest son from a marriage prior to her entering the royal family — has been formally charged with multiple serious offenses including rape, assault, and bodily harm, attention has inevitably returned to the family. 

Certainly, the Norwegian Monarchy is not as powerful as the British Monarchy.

Its duties are ceremonial as opposed to ruling, The Washington Post reports, but there is still a hereditary line to the throne and Mette-Marit is married to the country's future king, Haakon Magnus, Crown Prince of Norway.

Mette-Marit has, for decades, occupied a unique and at times controversial place in the family. 

She was never the public's number-one choice, as Byrne described in her Instagram post. 

"As an ex-waitress and single mother with involvement in Oslo's drug circles, the princess bride was a hard sell to the Norwegian public in the lead-up to her wedding to Prince Haakon," she writes.

"Mette-Marit was even forced to endure a press conference where she tearfully apologised for her past."

Mette-Marit met the prince at a garden party at a music festival and, when they announced their engagement in December, 2000, the prince said they'd been dating for a year.

A Hello Magazine profile on Mette-Marit at the time said many people were "questioning the prince's choice of partner".

"Suddenly Mette-Marit, who was known to have moved in circles where drugs were readily available, and who had a three-year-old son, Marius, by a man convicted of drug possession, found her past under fierce scrutiny," the profile read.

Image: Getty.

"And while nearly half of all Norwegian children are born out of wedlock and unmarried cohabitation is rapidly becoming the norm, many questioned the crown prince's choice of partner."

Though she went on to attain her master's degree and has two additional children with Haakon Magnus, the shadow of Mette-Marit's past, that unfair stain, is hard to shake.

For example, in 2012, People reported on the success of her higher education but put it down to the Princess playing "catch up".

"Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby had little higher education when she met and later married Norway's Crown Prince Haakon. The former waitress and single mother from Kristiansand has been catching up ever since," it read. 

And it's been a long journey. 

Born on August 19, 1973, in a working-class part of Norway, Mette-Marit is the daughter of a journalist and a bank employee. Her parents divorced when she was young, and she was raised primarily by her mother.

Her father, Sven O. Høiby, became a convicted felon and largely lived on welfare throughout his life. His criminal record and later behavior, including selling stories about his daughter to the press, contributed to the scrutiny of Mette-Marit's background when she became Crown Princess. After his divorce from Mette-Marit's mother, he married an exotic dancer. 

Despite this, Mette-Marit actively participated as a child; in youth clubs, ballet, choir, scouting, and church activities. She also played volleyball and was qualified as a judge and coach in the sport.

However, she also described her teenage and young adult years as a "rebellious phase." She took longer than usual to complete her secondary education and held various jobs, including as a waitress.

In the 1990s, Mette-Marit was part of Oslo's underground party scene, which she has since acknowledged included drug use among some attendees. She publicly addressed this chapter of her life before her royal wedding, expressing condemnation of drugs and distancing herself from her former associations.

"I would like to take this opportunity to say that I condemn drugs," she said at the time. "I cannot make these choices again, even though I would wish I could."

During this period, she was also involved in relationships with men who had criminal records. In 1997, she gave birth to her first child, Marius Borg Høiby, whose father, Morten Borg, served time in prison for drugs and violent offences. Mette-Marit and Borg were no longer together by the time she met Crown Prince Haakon.

Mette-Marit and her son Marius. Image: Getty

Her relationship with the Crown Prince became public in 2000.

The announcement was made with a press conference and a balcony appearance, which was followed by a gala dinner. 

"It was not an easy choice, but I look forward to marrying Haakon and I look forward to entering that role. I just hope people will accept me for the person I am," she said at the time of entering the royal family. 

The announcement of their engagement later that year triggered significant media commentary. Despite the criticism, the royal wedding went ahead on August 25, 2001.

Mette-Marit's nuclear family includes her husband and children: Marius, Ingrid and Sverre.

Since then, Mette-Marit has become a central figure in the royal family, known for her involvement in humanitarian and social causes. She has worked on issues related to HIV/AIDS, youth leadership, and mental health. In 2006, she was appointed a special representative for UNAIDS. She is also a patron of several Norwegian organizations, including the Norwegian Red Cross.

Her work has also extended to women's rights, with her saying, "Everyone can do something for women across the world who are worse off than ourselves… Where can you make a difference? What can you do to help women?"

Alongside Crown Prince Haakon, Mette-Marit has raised three children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, and her son from her previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby. 

Princess Ingrid is about to embark on a secondment to Australia to study. 

Princess Ingrid, heir to the throne, is due to come to Australia. Image: Getty.

While Mette-Marit and Haakon's two youngest children are in the line of succession, Marius has never held a royal title nor performed formal duties for the monarchy.

From entering the royal family he was nicknamed "Little Marius" (Lille Marius in Norwegian), a character in Norweigan literature, per the Washington Post. 

Growing up largely outside the royal structure, Marius Borg Høiby has lived a more private life compared to his half-siblings. He completed his schooling in Norway and briefly worked in the UK before returning to Scandinavia. In recent years, he has appeared sporadically in the media, both for personal ventures and for several incidents that attracted public attention.

In August 2024, Marius was arrested on suspicion of assault, per the BBC, and was subsequently banned from his mother and stepfather's residence following a party that resulted in a burglary, per marie claire.

This year, the situation has escalated significantly, with formal charges being laid against him in a criminal case involving multiple alleged victims. The charges include rape, sexual assault, and bodily harm, per The Guardian.  

According to Norwegian media outlet NRK, the royal family has responded with a brief statement: "The case is taking its course in the legal system, and follows normal procedures. We have nothing more to add."  

Marius will need to face court on his charges. Image: Getty.

Mette-Marit is reportedly expected to be questioned as part of the legal process, although there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on her part.

Over time, Crown Princess Mette-Marit has gained recognition for her work and resilience. She has spoken publicly about her health challenges, including a diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis in 2018.

The condition — a serious and progressive lung disease — has led to periods of reduced public activity, including a formal leave of absence from royal duties in October 2024, per CBS News. 

Her story has both been a 'Cinderella tale' and an example of how difficult it can be as a commoner marrying into the most elite royal families of Europe. 

Her years of advocacy, charity work, and dedication, are still balanced with discussion of her past. 

As legal proceedings involving her son continue, it remains to be seen how the royal family will navigate the difficult balance between personal privacy and public responsibility.

For Mette-Marit, it is yet another chapter in a life that has unfolded, from the very beginning, in full view of the Norwegian public.

Featured image: Getty.