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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, from before she met the king.

When Mette-Marit remarried into the royal family, Høiby, then aged four, 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.

While he's a part of the family, he is not a part of the Royal House, in that he is free to do as he chooses and not take up the mantle of royal work.

Now, at 29, Høiby is at the centre of a criminal case that's making headlines worldwide.

He was charged with 40 offences, including four counts of rape between 2018 and 2024.

On Monday, nearly three months after his six-week trial, Høiby learned his fate.

The Oslo District Court found him guilty of 34 offences — including two counts of rape, serious bodily harm, abuse in close relationships, physical assault, threats, six counts of sexually offensive behaviour and three counts of violating a restraining order, The Guardian reports.

He was acquitted of two counts of rape and two counts of violating a restraining order.

Per The Guardian, the rape charges involve four women who were allegedly sleeping or heavily incapacitated and spanned between 2018 and 2014.

One of the rapes he was convicted of took place at the Crown Prince's estate at Skaugum in 2018, the BBC reports. The other involved a woman in Oslo in 2024.

The women had been unaware of the incidents until police found videos on Høiby's phone after his arrest, BBC reports.

Prosecutors had argued for Høiby to be given seven years and seven months. In the end, he was sentenced to four years in prison.

Within hours, his lawyers said he would appeal against his verdict.

The palace has said it will not comment on Monday's verdict.

Last week, Høiby pleaded with a judge at Oslo's District Court to be released on bail to spend time with his mother, who is gravely unwell with chronic pulmonary fibrosis and has been placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant, local outlet NRK reports.

"Every Sunday could be the last time we see each other," he said in court, per NRK.

"Sitting inside while I know my mum is so sick is unbearable."

His bail application was granted but prosecutors swiftly appealed the decision before it was overturned by the Court of Appeal, which argued there was "still a strong likelihood that Hoiby would commit new crimes if he is released", Nine reports.

Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. Image: Getty.

Defence lawyers for Høiby, who has no royal titles or official duties, earlier said there was no evidence to support the rape charges.

He has, however, admitted to lesser offences including drug possession, transporting 3.5kg of marijuana in 2020, traffic violations and breaches of a restraining order involving a former partner.

He also partially admitted to acts related to violence and threats but disputes key aspects of those allegations, including intent.

During six weeks of court proceedings that ended on March 19, the defence team argued a maximum sentence of 18 months would be appropriate for the charges Høiby admitted to.

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.

Norway's Crown Prince Haakon released a statement in January stating that Høiby, while an "important part of our family", would not be above the law.

"He is a citizen of Norway, and through that he has the same responsibilities as everyone else, but also the same rights," Haakon said.

He also included some remarks to the alleged victims.

"Our thoughts are with everyone who is affected by this case. It has an impact on the individuals, their families and all those who care about them. We understand that this is a difficult time for many of you, and we sympathise," he said.

The Norwegian royals were not in the courtroom during the trial.

While Prince Haakon continued his official duties, Mette-Marit stayed in a private residence. The Crown Princess has scaled back her royal workload due to health concerns surrounding her pulmonary fibrosis.

Image: Getty.

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.

Speaking to the BBC, royal correspondent Tove Taalesen discussed the position Høiby has had in the Norwegian spotlight.

"[Prince Haakon] lifted up this sweet, innocent little boy and presented him to the Norwegian people. He was a stepdad, and he wanted to include Marius, but at the same time, they didn't give Marius any title, any purpose, so he had this odd function in the family — he was a big part of it, but he wasn't a part of it," she said.

— with AAP

Feature image: AAP.