I don't doubt at all that Marius' family knew that he has mental and substance issues. What were they supposed to do go make him stand in the town square with a sign around his neck listing his diagnoses? When he caught with drugs in 2017, he did not screech, "do you know who my mother is??!!?? my stepfather??!!" He did not call in the royal cavalry to get him out of that jam, in fact, if I understand what was posted, he tried to not be noticed by a friend of his mother, and from there he paid the fine. The question I posed earlier was does the Norwegian media report on, including names, of people who get caught in possession of cocaine? If no, I don't see a cover up. if yes, then the questions need to be asked why Marius did not get reported on.
I don't doubt that his social circle is Oslo is small and his Marius' social circle knew that he has mental and substance issues, and I suspect that some knew about his violence towards his partners. A thought that occurred to me was that one or more persons in the latest partner's circle probably warned her against him, and she was encouraged to reach out if things went bad, which they did. She contacted a friend who got her to get medical treatment and I assume from there that is how law enforcement became involved. I think that it was reported that the media knew about Marius' partying ways / drug use and did not report on his lifestyle. I don't recall reading that they were tipped off about him being violent. My question is what were the nature of these tips? I suspect that they were "gossipy" tips that someone wanted a tabloid to pay them for. I suspect if the tipper could provide a picture of Marius in the vicinity of white powder, they may have reported on it since they did so with on his ex Nora.
It was reported today that Marius and the woman are shacked up at Skaugum. You know the woman that less than a month ago, he hit multiple times, he choked multiple times, damaged her apartment including putting a knife in the wall, from there he left the scene and rather than cooling off, had a phone call that included murder threats. Maybe Haakon and Mette-Marit should kick both of them out and tell them to go be messy elsewhere, but again where is the cover up?
I can see where numerous people knew that Marius is both troubled and trouble, although I am not convinced that high level government officials were being briefed, but even then, being aware and briefed and covering up are not the same thing. Also what information was in these briefings - he uses cocaine, he parties and he is acquainted with gangsters. Again what was supposed to happen, was he supposed to be trotted out to the town square with the sign, "Hello I am Marius, I snort cocaine and hang out with bad people." As I speculated before, due to the fact that Marius' own father is a convicted felon, precautions have likely been in place for years to protect the Norwegian royals from certain risks.
Again, I am not completely ruling out that things were covered up, but thus far I am not seeing evidence that the CP couple, the court, journalists and/or government officials covered up Marius' felonious acts. Also, I think that awareness and tolerance are being conflated with covering up, let's not forget, in a week's time King Harald's daughter is set to have a big, fat Norwegian wedding to a convicted criminal.
You raise a number of valid points and I sincerely hope you are right. Because I used to find the NRF very likable and relatable, with the exception of ML and her Durek I also believed they did a great job in representing Norway. I wold very much like to keep that image.
However, I'm not so sure now. Because while I'm in no doubt whatsoever that the core-members of the NRF genuinely are kind-hearted and nice people. - But... There comes a point where kindness becomes naivety and overbearing becomes over-indulgence to the point where it becomes counter-productive and self-destructing for your image. I wonde if that's the core of the issue with both ML and Marius. - And perhaps even when Mette Marit married into the NRF? I.e. that she perhaps did not and still does not fully understand that she not only married Haakon, she married Norway. There is a difference between being Mrs. Haakon and being the Crown Princess.
That there are about 5.294 slugs in our garden right now who IMO all appear to have more backbone than Haakon doesn't exactly help!
But back to Marius.
I am not convinced that Marius has serious mental issues. We only have his words for it. And mental issues in various forms is unfortunately often used as an excuse rather than an explanation.
Marius may have mental issues
now, but that could just as well stem from years of using cocaine. He used cocaine when he was around 20, why should he have stopped? And that, like any other form of addiction, comes with a price.
I simply cannot believe that no one noticed that Marius was high, had an erratic behavior and was associating known criminals and didn't gossip about it. I simply refuse to believe that the security police and others wouldn't consider it a problem that Marius, the son/stepson of the CP-couple was nailed for possession of cocaine and associating shady characters. That alone should make the alarm bells go off. Marius after all had free access to the Skaugum estate. And wasn't there a story about Marius and Co. photographing the interior? And the security police, the court and the politicians would just say: Now, you really shouldn't do that, Marius.
He has been abusive towards three girlfriends (that we know off), are we to believe that no one knew? And no one said anything?
Finally, as late as this August he was reported for stealing a scooter. That's a part of a pattern. I cannot believe that Marius at the ripe age of 27 thought: Well, I need a ride. Hmm, I've never stolen anything before, but how about I start by stealing this scooter?
You get my point? Norway is not China and Oslo is not New York, it's very difficult to hide and vanish in the crowd if you are well-known. Someone must have noticed something.
So a number of reports, warnings, heads up and so on must have filtered upwards and if they never reached the NRF, they must have been blocked at some point or points along the line. That's a cover up.
If they did reach the NRF and were largely ignored or dismissed or played down then it's a problem that someone should have reacted on. In this case by going to the government(s). If they didn't or the government(s) didn't do anything, it's a cover up. (Or sweeping the whole issue under the carpet, if that's preferable.)
That the press didn't know is next to impossible. That they didn't write about is an editorial decision. Whether that was out of misunderstood consideration for King Harald, whether there was a wish to maintain an idyllic public image of the NRF and by extension Norway or whether someone pulled strings is debatable. But I dare say that in most monarchies a child of the CP-couple behaving and associating with certain people like Marius is, would be considered of public/national interest and written about. So again, a cover up.
Silence is covering up.
You point out that Marius and the third victim is together again and live at Skaugum. I find that very disturbing in itself.
I also believe it's a blatant remiss by Mette Marit in particular. She has involved herself in helping women who have suffered from domestic abuse. She of all people should know that you try your best to separate the victim of abuse from the abuser, at least until the abuser has been treated and show improvement, if that ever happens. She may be protective of Marius, but she sure ain't protective of the victim! And where is Haakon? Lying in a fetus position under a couch sucking his thumb? Why isn't he putting his foot down and tell his wife she's doing something monumentally stupid? Skaugum is supposed to be his estate, why isn't he refusing them to live together at Skaugum? And why isn't he telling Marius to stay clear of this third victim or face consequences. Cutting off his allowance would be a nice start. Sending him off to paint a white circle around every single tree along the Swedish/Norwegian border would be better IMO!