Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Norway’s Queen Mette-Marit, made an appearance alongside the royal family, despite his ongoing house arrest. The 29-year-old was given special permission to attend events to honour the late King Harald of Norway,
Marius Borg Høiby made a controversial appearance at the Royal Palace in Oslo despite currently serving house arrest
Reports say that Høiby was also allowed to visit King Harald in the hospital before his death.
According to People, he accompanied members of the Norwegian royal family in a procession. The austere event involved the family’s journey to move King Harald’s coffin from the Red Salon at the Royal Palace in Oslo to the Palace Chapel. The remains of the late king will remain there until the King’s state funeral on Sept 9.
Høiby is Queen Mette-Marit’s son from a relationship prior to her marriage to King Haakon. Despite holding no royal titles or succession chances, he has been known to be present at key events involving his extended royal family.
The procession was led by senior palace officials carrying the Crown of Norway and the Sword of the Kingdom. Newly appointed King Haakon also walked beside the coffin with his daughter, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra. Høiby followed at the back of the procession.
His appearance comes at the back of a high-profile legal case that has intensified scrutiny on him.
Høiby was convicted in June on two counts of rape and other offenses. He received a prison sentence and a restraining order. He was later transferred to house arrest while appealing the verdict.
The Norwegian royal family is already suffering a difficult time. Apart from King Harald’s death, Queen Mette-Marit is recovering from a lung transplant performed earlier this year. Despite health complications, she attended the event honouring the late King Harald.
Even without royal titles, controversies surrounding Høiby continue to attract public scrutiny amid his ongoing legal battle.
Originally reported by Sreemanti Sengupta for Mandatory
