Marius Borg Høiby News & Current Events Part 1: December 2023 -

[DukeOfWashington]

My guess is that the palace will say nothing about the MM accusations. They certainly wouldn't want to add fuel to the media fire, and they wouldn't want to risk inadvertently implicating her in all this.

Absent a chorus of members of parliament calling for a response, I'd bet they aren't going to say anything either. No reason to if she's not guilty of doing anything illegal. Just inaccurate reporting. And what could they say if she did do something illegal?

 

[Lori138]

I am curious as to why MM went to 'clean' house when the arrest was going to happen outside of Palace grounds? The only explanation I see is that she made sure her son's phone was inoperable and not able to be searched. She would have known that the Police would not be in the house.

 

[Muhler]

And Queen Sonja is still working, isn't she? Assuming her health remains good, perhaps she could continue as "lead queen" until Ingrid completes her education and starts a family.

The real problem would be if something happens to King Harald before the Marius situation has been settled and dropped off the radar. If Haakon had to take the throne now, while his sick wife is implicated in the mess, his children are still in school, and his sister is married to whatever that guy is, he'd have no support, other than his 87-year-old mother and his 92-year-old aunt.

My guess is that the palace will say nothing about the MM accusations. They certainly wouldn't want to add fuel to the media fire, and they wouldn't want to risk inadvertently implicating her in all this.

Yeah, it looks pretty dire, eh?

I believe this latest accusation, because that's basically what it is, about MM is so serious that this time the NRF has to issue a statement denying it. Because for each day that pass without this being refuted it becomes more and more believable and finally a fact.
Also, people can perhaps forgive a devastated mother calling the girlfriend of her son, right after her son has been arrested for abusing that girlfriend, in order to smooth things out. - But this latest accusation. You really have to be a seriously diehard royalist to overlook that.

Absent a chorus of members of parliament calling for a response, I'd bet they aren't going to say anything either. No reason to if she's not guilty of doing anything illegal. Just inaccurate reporting. And what could they say if she did do something illegal?

The Norwegian politicians have been remarkably silent in all this.
My take is that they know that eventually the public searchlight will seek out what various government did or did not do for the past ten years. The governments are after all there to guide and advise the NRF, also when they do something stupid.
No one IMO wants to rock the political boat.

 

[LadyFinn]

Haakon this evening:
- I understand that there are many questions about this. It is a demanding situation. There is an ongoing police investigation, and I don't think it is right to say so much about individual elements. As a family, we try to look after each other, and in addition to that, we are keen to do our job.

- Vi prøver å ta vare på hverandre

Kronprins Haakon snakket om den vanskelige familiesituasjonen.

www.seher.no

 

[Mbruno]

The Constitution does not provide an official role for the monarch's spouse, and the monarchy has functioned in the past without having a monarch's consort performing duties (King Olav V was unmarried over the course of his reign from 1957 to 1991). So there would be no particular constitutional issues if, hypothetically, Mette-Marit retired permanently (and indeed, that possibility must have been in everyone's minds since her diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis was announced).

Kongeriket Norges Grunnlov - Lovdata

Grunnloven (bokmål) - Grl.

lovdata.no

She may retire from public life entirely, but I suppose M-M would still be Queen when Haakon became King, because that is the title of the King’s wife. They would have to divorce for her to cease being the Queen.

 

[Prinsara]

Then Ingrid will have to step in. And basically take the glamorous role of "queen."

She has to go to school and do what she needs to to be an effective monarch herself. It’s not 1957 anymore. As Tatiana Maria pointed out, not only is a consort not required but there hasn’t been one for a good chunk of the post-1905 monarchy.

Perhaps Magnus should step in instead?

 

[Kataryn]

I personally decided that for me MM is a victim of her former life's consequences. The wish to better herself and have a better life for herself and her children is understandible. She did well in that. She obviously remainded Haakon's love. That her first child is, well, not within the expectations and she tries to help him, is nothing to point against her. She now seems to wait that the powers-to-be do what they were established to do. She seems to love her son and maybe did some wrong things: while he grew up and now. I understand this and I've always liked her. I don't care for Marius, I think I understand abit where he's come from but there could have been better decisions. Noone would have questions about his life or his finances if he lived quietly, married a nice lady and supported his stepdad and sister. But poor MM!

 

[DukeOfWashington]

I too have always like MM and do have much sympathy for her here. Perhaps only sympathy tbh.

 

[Prinsara]

That her first child is, well, not within the expectations and she tries to help him, is nothing to point against her.

No, unless she broke the law while doing so — which we really don’t know that she did. There’s got to be something more than speculation to condemn her.

So we wait and see. I’m guessing we’re not going to have a quick wait to find out what really happened, though.

 

[polyesco]

Haakon this evening:
- I understand that there are many questions about this. It is a demanding situation. There is an ongoing police investigation, and I don't think it is right to say so much about individual elements. As a family, we try to look after each other, and in addition to that, we are keen to do our job.

- Vi prøver å ta vare på hverandre

Kronprins Haakon snakket om den vanskelige familiesituasjonen.

www.seher.no

How nice. Haakon doesn't want to comment because it's an ongoing police investigation.
But destroying a phone's sim card, okay.
"Cleaning" out the house by the Crown Princess, okay.
Contacting the 3rd victim, okay.
But now he wants to be careful about interfering in a police investigation. Please

 

[Muhler]

She has to go to school and do what she needs to to be an effective monarch herself. It’s not 1957 anymore. As Tatiana Maria pointed out, not only is a consort not required but there hasn’t been one for a good chunk of the post-1905 monarchy.

Perhaps Magnus should step in instead?

Magnus is even younger and he is not destined to be a monarch. - And to be cynical, Magnus would look terrible in a dress and wearing a tiara.
Ingrid would simply have to work alongside her studies, as so many young people have to.

Ingrid is the last ace the NRF has. - King Harald, Queen Sonja are on their way out, to put it bluntly.

 

[DukeOfWashington]

More of Crown Prince Haakon's quote:

 

[kalnel]

More of Crown Prince Haakon's quote:

View attachment 304268

Well, there's the answer. They won't be making any actual statements. And, really, what could he say anyway?

 

[Hans-Rickard]

She has to go to school and do what she needs to to be an effective monarch herself. It’s not 1957 anymore. As Tatiana Maria pointed out, not only is a consort not required but there hasn’t been one for a good chunk of the post-1905 monarchy.

Perhaps Magnus should step in instead?

That was my thought too… There is really not constitutionally neccessary to have someone showing up in any of the tiaras as long as the monarch is not a female… And for incoming state visits and the annual parliament dinner, even a studying Ingrid Alexandra can attend the these banquets if neccessary…

To order her to stop her education in her early 20:s and pack her full with royal duties that also can be undertaken by a man, would be a disaster in my opinion… She cannot be compared to Princess Astrid as she is about to become a monarch herself, and must be allowed to prepare herself…

It would be much better (but still not a good option) to ask Magnus to put his education on pause and start to help out with royal duties….. But for that to happen they need to change their current mindset that Magnus is a private citizen and not expected to do anything for the monarchy…

The ongoing situations with both Marius and Märtha Louise should be enough proof of why having ”official members” of a royal family that is not expected to do anything at all for the monarchy, is a bad idea..

More of Crown Prince Haakon's quote:

View attachment 304268

The press will now try to milk anything they can out of him… Every word he says, every facial move, every movement of his eyes etc will be analyzed… But he knows that answering one question about Marius during a press conference about something else, would be like opening a can of worms with questions… The NRF doesn’t have much luck at the moment, but one luck they do have is that Haakon have nerves of steel and can handle media pressure…

If the NRF says anything at all collectively about Marius (wich i think they should, at least denying things that they know are not true), then it should come from a prepared statement, and not on an impromptu press conference where The Crown Prince is bombarded with questions..

 

[Prinsara]

This does beg the question of whether Harald’s remarks the other night were not in response to what’s been going on, but to what was about to break.

 

[victor1319]

I am curious as to why MM went to 'clean' house when the arrest was going to happen outside of Palace grounds? The only explanation I see is that she made sure her son's phone was inoperable and not able to be searched. She would have known that the Police would not be in the house.

"She would have known"... Yeah, if she was a cool headed person!

But under stress people do the strangest things! We do not know what and to what extent she knew about Marius' activities. Perhaps she knew... Or she simply got a strange feeling over time already about all her son's parties and actions and wanted to check and ended cleaning up?

 

[Somebody]

What was the exact question Haakon responded to? Was it about the Marius situation in general or about Mette Marit's possible involvement in the process towards the arrest? Because depending on which question was asked the 'this' might be interpreted differently as well as the specific reference on taking care of each other as a family.

 

[Snowangel]

What was the exact question Haakon responded to? Was it about the Marius situation in general or about Mette Marit's possible involvement in the process towards the arrest? Because depending on which question was asked the 'this' might be interpreted differently as well as the specific reference on taking care of each other as a family.

The question that was asked was :"would you mind sharing some of your thoughts about the difficult situation the family is in"

 

[Alondra]

I have noticed from time to time that there are suggestions that Marius should suffer some kind of personality disorder.
We of course don't know if he is and I certainly have no qualifications to even venture a guess.

If we are to sum up Marius personality:
He a bit of a risk-taker, (driving wild and crashing, that was fun! As well as jet-skiing with Ingrid.)
He likes to see himself a a rebel.
He shows very little respect for the norms and rules of the society.
He likes attention.
He likes to appear tough. Bad boy attitude.
He has next to no respect for other people, even those close to him.
He feels little if any remorse.
He blames other people. (Phone recordings with the third girlfriend, and accusing Snekkestad of abusing him.)
He has no qualms about stealing from other people, even those most close to him. Wine-cellar, gas-card, moped.
He has fits of uncontrollable anger.
Han can be very charming. Funny-Marius. Crazy-Marius.
He is however very protective of a few people, Marius and Ingrid.
(I probably left something out, but you fill in the blanks.)

I'm in no doubt that fits with a personality disorder or two.

However.... It also describes quite a lot very immature young men.
Especially if they are very entitled.
Haven been over-indulged.
Not overly-bright.
Have been spoiled rotten.
Selfish.
Have never really had to work to get anything.
Have always lived a life where they never lacked any necessities.
Have never experienced discipline and as such having been taught about boundaries.

- So in my most unqualified eyes, the verdict is still out as to whether Marius really has a personality disorder.

Perhaps someone who knows a lot more can enlighten us?

I have no idea if Marius have a personality disorder but the problems with him right now fall squarely under the responsibility of the Royal House.

Years ago in a documentary called "Princess in Exile", Raghnild said about Marius something like this ( just from memory): "I feel sad for the son Mette has. They have a new child who is the heir to the throne, and Marius is nothing. He's only 7 y.o. but will understand that there is a difference. And it will bring problems to them. I hope they've thought about that"

My impression is that the Royal House in Norway never made a plan for Marius to fully integrate him in the responsibilities of belonging to the institutional house and role. (...) They've failed to understand that in today's world, being a royal is a privilege with a mountain of responsibilities.

(..)

 

[Snowangel]

(..)

When it comes to "Princess in exile", I really didn't like that documentary at all. I will never understand the point sitting there and criticise your family like that. She obviously forgot that her own dad (Crownprince Olav), mum (Crownprincess Märtha) and grandad (King Haakon) was against her relationship to Erling Lorentzen.

But I belive with all my heart that MM and H did everything to fully integrate him in the responsibilities of belonging to the institutional house and role. But unfortunately it didn't work out. We don't know what happens behind closed doors.

One thing I am sure of, he is absolutely responsible for his own decisions and choices and should be severely dealt with.

 

[Muhler]

That was my thought too… There is really not constitutionally neccessary to have someone showing up in any of the tiaras as long as the monarch is not a female… And for incoming state visits and the annual parliament dinner, even a studying Ingrid Alexandra can attend the these banquets if neccessary…

To order her to stop her education in her early 20:s and pack her full with royal duties that also can be undertaken by a man, would be a disaster in my opinion… She cannot be compared to Princess Astrid as she is about to become a monarch herself, and must be allowed to prepare herself…

It would be much better (but still not a good option) to ask Magnus to put his education on pause and start to help out with royal duties….. But for that to happen they need to change their current mindset that Magnus is a private citizen and not expected to do anything for the monarchy…

The ongoing situations with both Marius and Märtha Louise should be enough proof of why having ”official members” of a royal family that is not expected to do anything at all for the monarchy, is a bad idea..


The press will now try to milk anything they can out of him… Every word he says, every facial move, every movement of his eyes etc will be analyzed… But he knows that answering one question about Marius during a press conference about something else, would be like opening a can of worms with questions… The NRF doesn’t have much luck at the moment, but one luck they do have is that Haakon have nerves of steel and can handle media pressure…

(...)

I don't expect Ingrid to work full-time.
Most students I know work a few hours a week to supplement their income. The income not being a problem for Ingrid.

In the scenario where MM has to leave the royal roadshow, it is likely that Haakon for at least a part of his reign will be Haakon the Unpopular and here he needs a (popular) support, in the shape of Ingrid. Who will also be seen as the future - and hope - of the NRF
Haakon would still handle most of the things a monarch is supposed to cover, but Ingrid (and Magnus, we may hope) will have to make frequent appearances. It's a question of necessity.
She can thank her parents and bonus-brother as well as her aunt for that one. And Norway may finally get a working royal who (hopefully) is also be an adult...

"She would have known"... Yeah, if she was a cool headed person!

But under stress people do the strangest things! We do not know what and to what extent she knew about Marius' activities. Perhaps she knew... Or she simply got a strange feeling over time already about all her son's parties and actions and wanted to check and ended cleaning up?

Well, ask yourself this: If you did what MM (seemingly) did and ended up in court, that's probably what your defense attorney will say. But do you think you would be acquitted?

 

[LadyFinn]

The Royal Court's communications manager Guri Ofstad Varpe writes in a statement to VG:
"The police notified the Royal Court and the Royal Court then informed the Crown Prince couple about an incident involving Marius Borg Høiby and about a possible arrest. As is known, the police also notified Marius Borg Høiby ahead of the arrest. The police chose not to make an arrest at his residence, and have never searched it."
VG has asked the Court several detailed questions about Mette-Marit's involvement in what happened on 4 August, but several of these questions have not been answered.
No one will say who alerted the Royal Court.
VG asked the Oslo Police District whether they notified the Royal Court or Mette-Marit, but they haven't answered.

Slottet varslet kronprinsparet om mulig pågripelse

Det kongelige hoff ble varslet av politiet om mulig pågripelse av Marius Borg Høiby (27). Deretter varslet de kronprinsparet.

www.vg.no

In Friday's episode of TV-reality show "Girls of Oslo", is shown what happened when Nora Haukland was informed that her ex-boyfriend Marius Borg Høiby had been charged with violence.
Suddenly the news was in all the newspapers. Nora had been on a trip to Stockholm, in a private plane, together with the other girls in "Girls of Oslo". She was sitting on the plane with Isabel Raad and Anniken Jørgensen when she switched on mobile data, and had the news thrown in her face.

- Jeg er redd for han

Nora Haukland om øyeblikket da beskjeden kom.

www.kk.no

 

[kalnel]

I wonder who made the decision to arrest Marius at the school, rather than at his house. Someone must have told the police that the arrest should not happen on the royal family's property. The CP's office? One of the ministries? The protection people?

In terms of the royal family, it's probably a good thing, since having an arrest there would create associations and precedents that could be awkward. But it doesn't seem fair to the victim, since the police might have found important evidence, if they'd been to the house.

 

[DukeOfWashington]

The Royal Court's communications manager Guri Ofstad Varpe writes in a statement to VG:
"The police notified the Royal Court and the Royal Court then informed the Crown Prince couple about an incident involving Marius Borg Høiby and about a possible arrest. As is known, the police also notified Marius Borg Høiby ahead of the arrest. The police chose not to make an arrest at his residence, and have never searched it."
VG has asked the Court several detailed questions about Mette-Marit's involvement in what happened on 4 August, but several of these questions have not been answered.
No one will say who alerted the Royal Court.
VG asked the Oslo Police District whether they notified the Royal Court or Mette-Marit, but they haven't answered.

Slottet varslet kronprinsparet om mulig pågripelse

Det kongelige hoff ble varslet av politiet om mulig pågripelse av Marius Borg Høiby (27). Deretter varslet de kronprinsparet.

www.vg.no

In Friday's episode of TV-reality show "Girls of Oslo", is shown what happened when Nora Haukland was informed that her ex-boyfriend Marius Borg Høiby had been charged with violence.
Suddenly the news was in all the newspapers. Nora had been on a trip to Stockholm, in a private plane, together with the other girls in "Girls of Oslo". She was sitting on the plane with Isabel Raad and Anniken Jørgensen when she switched on mobile data, and had the news thrown in her face.

- Jeg er redd for han

Nora Haukland om øyeblikket da beskjeden kom.

www.kk.no

This would seem to somwhat exonerate MM, no? If she had been informed AND her (and/or Marius) knew they would not be making arrest at the home or searching it. Then the home is not at all involved in the investigation.

 

[Muhler]

I wonder who made the decision to arrest Marius at the school, rather than at his house. Someone must have told the police that the arrest should not happen on the royal family's property. The CP's office? One of the ministries? The protection people?

In terms of the royal family, it's probably a good thing, since having an arrest there would create associations and precedents that could be awkward. But it doesn't seem fair to the victim, since the police might have found important evidence, if they'd been to the house.

It's quite common for the police in at least Scandinavia to call a suspect and arrange a meeting place where the suspect will hand himself over to the police, sometimes in company with his lawyer or a family member.
It's often done so that the suspect and his family isn't embarrassed by being taken away by the police at home.
Or to avoid upsetting a close relative too much, say his mother. That being preferable to the police entering a home and dragging a son away in front of his family.
The arrest is usually taking place in a more quiet and calm atmosphere, deescalating a situation that could easily escalate.
It's also a common thing if it's someone who is on the run and who simply has had enough of constantly looking over his shulders.
And finally, but by no means least, it often establish a rapport between the suspect and the police officer handling the arrest, which is always a good start.

So in this case I'd say it does makes good sense to ask Marius to give himself up outside the royal grounds. Outside of the eyes of staff, guards and possible civilians with cameras. It doesn't make that good sense though if the whole purpose was to secure his phone and someone... warns him in advance about that.

This would seem to somwhat exonerate MM, no? If she had been informed AND her (and/or Marius) knew they would not be making arrest at the home or searching it. Then the home is not at all involved in the investigation.

The home could still end up being searched. A police guard could be posted outside the house, while a warrant was requested and processed and the police can always make a search if there are very good reasons for doing so.