As the trial of Marius Borg Høiby continues to dominate headlines in Norway, attention is increasingly turning to the wider implications for the royal family — particularly Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

A regional scouting organization has now called for her suspension as patron, arguing that institutions connected to the monarchy must reconsider their ties while the case involving her son unfolds. At the same time, renewed scrutiny has fallen on the timing of a December press conference announcing that Mette-Marit’s lung disease had progressed to the point that doctors were discussing a potential transplant — a date that coincided with the release of Jeffrey Epstein related documents mentioning her earlier contact with him. Her physician insists the timing was purely a matter of scheduling.

The issue has been further complicated by testimony from Høiby himself, who told the court that his mother warned him police had contacted the family shortly before his arrest.

Meanwhile, new polling suggests support for the Norwegian monarchy has fallen sharply, dropping from seventy percent to sixty percent in a month. King Harald remains extremely popular, but Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s approval rating has dropped to 3.7 out of 10.

Plus: a political debate over whether public opinion can affect the line of succession, and an Oslo bookstore display linking royal coverage to the Epstein scandal that has drawn fresh attention to the controversy.


AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

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Trial week 5: Frogner woman testifies for first time. New Feb 1 indictment (reckless conduct, restraining order breach during trial). Witness possibly tried to influence her, police investigation opened. Sophie Elise: "pose photo" not intentional. Oslo Scene witness: "no doubt he went for a chokehold." Messages: "You have to choose. Me or Farmen." NRK faces 400,000 kroner fine.

Frogner woman: "didn't start with violence," "jet-set guy who partied every weekend, used drugs, had criminal friends." Berlin: glass thrown into wall. Laptop broken in two. Skaugum: raised fist, punched glass door. Boat trip: spit in face, slapped. August 4: grabbed neck, chokeholds, slaps, knife thrown into wall, dragged by hair. Audio: "You are hated in this city now." "Seemed like he wanted to beat a confession out of me." "Pressure Marius experienced has been inhumane."

Høiby testifies: "don't recognize it, exaggerated." Admits spitting, laptop, one intimate image. Her calm "scariest thing." Polygraph test (8,000 kroner). August 4: "pretty massive, takes a lot out of me." "I admit the violence now." KEY ADMISSION: "I remember that I slapped her. I remember that I took her by the throat. I do not know if she could breathe. But I believe her when she says she could not." Mette-Marit called warning, told him shower, drove him to police. 172+ calls violating restraining order. Valentine's letter during trial. "Lies, infidelity, drugs and insecurity."

AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

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The fifth week of the trial of Marius Borg Høiby ended with dramatic testimony about the violent confrontation on August 4, 2024 — the incident that triggered the police investigation and the sweeping indictment now before the Oslo court.

Taking the stand, Høiby disputed parts of the Frogner woman’s account but admitted key elements of the fight. “I remember that I slapped her,” he told the court. “And I remember that I took her by the throat.” He acknowledged shouting insults, smashing items in the apartment and sending a threatening message to a man he believed she had been with.

The court also heard that Høiby made at least 172 calls to the woman despite a restraining order and even sent a Valentine’s Day letter through a friend while the trial was already underway. He blamed alcohol and cocaine for some of the night’s events, telling the court that recordings from the confrontation made him sound “completely rabid.”

By the end of the week the court had worked through much of the timeline involving the Frogner woman — testimony prosecutors say illustrates a pattern of escalating conflict, violence and harassment.

AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

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A pivotal day in Oslo District Court as Marius Borg Høiby took the stand to respond directly to the testimony of the woman known as the “Frogner woman,” who is connected to many of the charges against him. Høiby told the court he did not recognize much of her account, saying, “I felt that a lot was exaggerated, and some of it simply wasn’t true.”

During hours of testimony he acknowledged several incidents, including spitting in her face during an argument, breaking her laptop — “I took the laptop and snapped it in two” — and taking an intimate image without consent, telling the court, “I did it. It should never have happened.” He also said an alleged slap “sounds like it happened,” calling it “incredibly stupid.”

The most emotional moment came when the court reached the August 4, 2024 confrontation in the Frogner apartment that triggered the police investigation. Høiby told the court, “I admit the violence now,” though he disputes prosecutors’ classification of the offence as particularly serious.
Meanwhile, police have opened a separate investigation after testimony suggesting a friend may have tried to influence what the Frogner woman told investigators.
Høiby’s testimony will continue as the court prepares to examine the events of that night in greater detail.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record. Nothing in this program should be considered a factual finding or legal determination.

AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

You may also enjoy these other Royal Podcasts.

Palace Intrigue - daily updates on the current British Ryal Family

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Crown and Controversy - King Charles

Crown and Controversy - Norway 

One of the most consequential phases of the Marius Borg Høiby trial is now underway as the woman known in Norwegian media as the “Frogner woman” begins two days of testimony. She is connected to twenty of the forty criminal counts in the case.

In emotional evidence, she told the court the relationship did not begin with violence but gradually escalated from jealousy, drugs and insecurity. She described arguments in Berlin and Norway where objects were smashed, alleged incidents of filming without consent, and a volatile relationship she called “like a roller coaster.”

The court also heard her account of the night of August 4, 2024, when she says Høiby grabbed her by the neck, slapped her and destroyed property in her apartment. She testified that at one point he took a knife and threatened to kill a man he believed she had cheated with.

Prosecutors say her allegations underpin many of the charges in the case, including assault, property damage, sexually offensive filming and restraining order violations. Høiby admits some lesser offences but denies the most serious accusations.

The testimony continues Thursday, after which Høiby himself is expected to give his account of events.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record. Nothing in this program should be considered a factual finding or legal determination.


AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

You may also enjoy these other Royal Podcasts.

Palace Intrigue - daily updates on the current British Ryal Family

Crown and Controversy - British Royal Family after the TV Series The Crown

King William - The Crown in the Future

Crown and Controversy - King Charles

Crown and Controversy - Norway 

Dramatic developments in Oslo District Court as prosecutor Sturla Henriksbø announces a new additional indictment against Marius Borg Høiby — alleging reckless conduct and breach of a restraining order involving the so-called Frogner woman just days before trial began.
According to the indictment, Høiby is accused of calling her an “unfaithful whore,” breaking his phone, grabbing her as she tried to leave, and later sitting beside her with a knife while threatening to harm himself. He acknowledges criminal responsibility for the reckless conduct and restraining order breach. His defence says: “He has always acknowledged that. There is nothing new here.”

We also cover testimony from Nora Haukland’s sister, her PR adviser describing “lovebombing” and manipulation, text messages including “You have to choose. Me or Farmen,” and a witness who said at Oslo Scene, “There was no doubt that he went for a chokehold.”

Plus: a former inmate finally testifies, a close friend defends Høiby’s character, and prosecutors seek a 400,000 kroner fine against NRK for violating court photo restrictions.

The proceedings have formally widened. Wednesday will bring the formal reading of the new indictment and the expected testimony of the Frogner woman.

Portions of this program were assembled with the assistance of AI, including help with translation, summarisation, and news gathering from publicly available sources. While we have taken care to reflect the reporting accurately, translations and interpretations may contain errors. Listeners should treat this as an informational overview, not a verbatim court record.

Nothing in this program should be considered a factual finding or legal determination.


AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

You may also enjoy these other Royal Podcasts.

Palace Intrigue - daily updates on the current British Ryal Family

Crown and Controversy - British Royal Family after the TV Series The Crown

King William - The Crown in the Future

Crown and Controversy - King Charles

Crown and Controversy - Norway 

uesday’s proceedings in the trial of Marius Borg Høiby shifted from live witnesses to the documentary core of the case.

A close friend of Nora Haukland told the court she “quickly got a feeling that something was not right,” describing an incident where he was “very angry” and an alleged chokehold that left her “very scared.”Neighbours testified about a night of intense noise — “Shit is going down next door” — and said they later saw visible injuries

.The afternoon was dominated by hundreds of text messages, moving from “You are my dream woman” to “You were violent today,” along with a personal note titled “Things I want to change about myself,” in which he wrote, “My first goal is to stop all lying completely” and “When I take cocaine I feel invincible. I am not.”We break down the testimony, the SMS evidence, and what it could mean as the evidentiary phase continues.

AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

You may also enjoy these other Royal Podcasts.

Palace Intrigue - daily updates on the current British Ryal Family

Crown and Controversy - British Royal Family after the TV Series The Crown

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Crown and Controversy - King Charles

Crown and Controversy - Norway 

The Høiby trial barrels into its most explosive stretch as a new complainant prepares to testify and her lawyer raises concerns about possible witness influence behind the scenes. Prosecutors continue their marathon reading of private messages they say reveal a cycle of tension and reconciliation, while the court scrambles to stay on schedule. With Høiby set to return to the stand and a psychiatric report looming, this week could redefine the case.

AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

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Palace Intrigue - daily updates on the current British Ryal Family

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Trial week 4 focuses on Nora Haukland domestic abuse charge. Police officer Mina Bankerud explains "wheel of violence": tension, conflict, honeymoon phase. Messages show cycle: apologies ("I'm sorry for being an idiot") followed by conflict. "Pose photo" controversy: Haukland holding white powder. Høiby: "PR strategy from end to end. It's Norway's biggest influencer." Emotional about Crown Prince/Princess portrayal: "I can't f---ing understand it. Mum and Haakon haven't done anything other than be the world's kindest."

Høiby admits anger problem: "I've had it since I was little." Lost 95% of friends: "No one wants to be seen with me." Describes pushing Haukland, spitting in her face, Palmesus festival "felt trapped." Danby Choi: "very good at arguing." Anniken Jørgensen emotional testimony, left in tears after conflict with Høiby. Ida Broen saw him grab Haukland hard. Haukland's mother: "She became very withdrawn."

King Harald hospitalized in Tenerife (infection/dehydration). If dies, Haakon becomes king instantly, Mette-Marit queen consort. 31,000+ articles globally, 15,000+ Germany. NRK comedy sketch controversy. Thorbjørn Jagland hospitalized after Epstein corruption charges. Monarchy support drops 70% to 60%. Mette-Marit rating halves 7.4 to 3.7. Märtha Louise lowest 3.1. Harald highest 9.2.

AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

You may also enjoy these other Royal Podcasts.

Palace Intrigue - daily updates on the current British Ryal Family

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King William - The Crown in the Future

Crown and Controversy - King Charles

Crown and Controversy - Norway 

Week four ends with the Høiby trial now firmly centered on the close-relationship abuse charge involving Nora Haukland. Police read extensive message exchanges and explain the “wheel of violence,” while witnesses describe frequent arguments, alleged control, and what they say Haukland told them during the relationship. A friend of both parties, Danby Choi, says he saw shouting but no physical violence, while other witnesses recount emotional disclosures and a confrontation that spilled into open conflict in court. Procedurally, detention continues past Monday, a restraining order is extended, and next week’s timetable expands as the case falls behind, with the Frogner complainant due to begin testimony mid-week. Separately, an NRK poll shows support for the monarchy dropping sharply in a month, with Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s approval nearly halving, even as King Harald, Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon remain strongly rated.

AI is sometimes used in the creation of this podcast, primarlily when used to translate and interpolate Norwegian language news soruces.

You may also enjoy these other Royal Podcasts.

Palace Intrigue - daily updates on the current British Ryal Family

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King William - The Crown in the Future

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Crown and Controversy - Norway