He arrived quietly, slipping into Oslo Cathedral alongside his step-cousins as kings, queens and world leaders gathered to say farewell to Norway's King Harald V. But few heads turned more than those catching sight of Marius Borg Høiby — the Queen's son, sentenced to four years in prison for rape, attending one of Europe's most watched state funerals under a special court exemption from house arrest.
A Funeral Appearance Nobody Quite Expected
Marius Borg Høiby, 29, was found guilty in June of two counts of rape, assault against a former girlfriend, and dozens of further offences — 34 in total, including possession of illegal substances. He was sentenced to four years in prison, but his legal team launched an appeal, and since July he has been confined to the royal estate of Skaugum under electronic monitoring. A ruling by Oslo District Court earlier this week extended that detention by a further four weeks, with the case now before the Court of Appeal and no final verdict expected until 2027.
Yet on Wednesday, 9 September, Marius walked into Oslo Cathedral as part of the Norwegian royal family's farewell to King Harald V, who died on 28 August aged 89. He had been granted a special permit allowing him to travel beyond the perimeter set by the Norwegian Correctional Service — first to the hospital in the days before Harald's death, and then to both a private family ceremony at the palace and the full state funeral itself.
How the Day Unfolded
Marius travelled from Skaugum to the Royal Palace in Oslo in the same car as his half-siblings, Crown Princess Ingrid and Prince Sverre Magnus. While the Crown Princess and her brother took their places in the funeral procession on foot, Marius went directly to the cathedral, where he entered alongside Martha Louise of Norway's husband Durek Verrett and his cousins — Martha Louise's daughters Leah Isadora Behn, Maud Angelica Behn, and Emma Tallulah Behn.
Inside, he was seated in the second row by the altar, in the section reserved for the King's grandchildren without official royal roles. He had earlier helped to move the casket from the palace's Red Salon, walking behind Harald's eldest grandchild, Maud Angelica Behn. Among those also present at the service was Prince William, one of dozens of world leaders attending.
Public Opinion Divided
His presence drew immediate comment — and not just from outside Norway. Royal commentator and journalist Caroline Vagle, speaking to Hello! magazine, acknowledged the complexity of the moment.
"Many people will understand that a person should be allowed to grieve for someone who was important in his life. At the same time, it is difficult to ignore the situation Marius himself is in."
Royal historian Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen offered further context, noting that the initial palace ceremony was considered a private family occasion — the Norwegian Royal House itself used the word "grandchildren" when referring to those present. "Due to the ceremony's initial private nature, it was natural for the royal family to include Marius Borg Høiby in the ceremony as one of King Harald's grandchildren," he told Hello!.
Caroline Vagle added that while Marius holds no constitutional or representative role and technically remains outside the formal royal house, the family dimension is an entirely different matter. "He is the Queen's son and the King's stepson. That means he is very close to the innermost circle of the royal family, even though he has no constitutional or representative role. That distinction is important," she said.
A Reflection of Who Harald Was
For many observers, Marius's inclusion spoke less about legal grey areas and more about the character of the late king himself. Harald V was a monarch who navigated extraordinarily difficult family terrain — from Marius's lengthy and high-profile criminal trial to Queen Mette-Marit's reported connection to Jeffrey Epstein — and consistently chose to prioritise family alongside his duties to Norway.
"We know that King Harald was a very generous and warm person, who believed in looking after everyone — including those who find themselves on the outside of society."
Marius has an unusual history with Oslo Cathedral. It was there, 25 years ago, that his mother married Crown Prince Haakon — a wedding that made the then four-year-old boy a symbol of a changing Norway: the future king marrying a commoner, a single mother who had openly acknowledged a difficult past.
Marius grew up on royal property with a diplomatic passport and permanent security, living the life of a prince without ever holding the title. Wednesday marked his most visible return to that building — and to the centre of royal attention — since those early childhood years.
His house arrest conditions require periodic drug testing, and any breach could alter the course of the entire appeals process. For now, though, he said his goodbyes — quietly, and in the front rows.
