Norway's Princess Mette-Marit puts on a united front with Prince Haakon as they attend Nobel Peace Prize awards amid health woes and her son's rape charges

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  • Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon joined King Harald V and Queen Sonja
  • READ MORE: Future King of Norway’s stepson – who is accused of rape – reveals he ‘violently’ broke up with an ex in shocking video

Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway put on a united front today as they attended the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in the capital of Oslo.

Mette-Marit, 51, put her personal health struggles and her son’s rape and assault charges to one side on Tuesday, to join her husband and his parents, reigning monarch King Harald V and Queen Sonja, at Oslo City Hall.

Awarded annually, the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize was this year presented to The Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers, founded in 1956 and known as Nihon Hidankyo.

Nihon Hidankyo was honoured for ‘its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again,’ according to the Nobel Prize website. 

The royals put on a cheerful display today despite having endured a difficult few months; Mette-Marit has suffered with her chronic lung disease and her son Marius Borg Høiby, from a previous relationship, is awaiting trial on charges of rape and domestic violence.

But the Princess appeared in good form as she joined her family members at the annual ceremony in Norway’s capital. 

The Norwegian Royal Family wasn’t the only Royal Household attending a Nobel Prize today – with the Swedish Royals putting on a dazzling display as they gathered in Stockholm for the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony.

The Nobel Prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics are awarded in Sweden, while the one for peace is awarded in Norway. 

Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway put on a united front today as they attended the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in the capital of Oslo

Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway put on a united front today as they attended the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in the capital of Oslo

King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia, dressed in a metallic violet gown, were joined by heir to the Swedish throne Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel at the glittering ceremony.

Victoria, 47, complemented her mother’s ensemble by wearing a dark purple off-the-shoulders floor-length dress and a dazzling tiara.

Also at the annual occasion was the heir’s brother Prince Carl Philip, his pregnant wife Princess Sofia, and Victoria’s sister Princess Madeleine.

Over in Oslo, Mette-Marit looked striking in an embroidered cream high neck coat by Valentino Garavani, which she paired with wide-leg trousers in the same shade.

She wore patent, nude-coloured pointed toe heels and carried a burgundy clutch bag that coordinated not only with the embroidery on her jacket but with her velvet headband, too. 

The mother-of-three’s complexion was radiant and bronzed while her shoulder-length, blond hair was blown straight.  She added a pair of dainty drop earrings to complete her look.

Crown Prince Haakon, 51, looked dapper in a black suit, crisp white shirt and a silver tie, while Queen Sonja appeared typically elegant in a turquoise skirt suit with a matching hat.

The 87-year-old royal’s suit jacket had a peplum hem while her pencil skirt fell to the knee. She wore a decorative gold brooch with a pearl on her jacket and a string of pearls around her neck. 

The royals put on a cheerful display today despite having endured a difficult few months

The royals put on a cheerful display today despite having endured a difficult few months 

Pictured: Mette-Marit and Haakon greet the representatives of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner Japan's atomic bomb survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo

Pictured: Mette-Marit and Haakon greet the representatives of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize winner Japan’s atomic bomb survivors’ group Nihon Hidankyo

Mette-Marit pictured arriving at the Nobel banquet at the Grand Hotel in Oslo, on Tuesday evening

Mette-Marit pictured arriving at the Nobel banquet at the Grand Hotel in Oslo, on Tuesday evening

The 51-year-old royal put her personal health struggles and her son's assault scandal to one side to join her husband, heir to the throne Crown Prince Haakon (right), and his parents, reigning monarch King Harald V (left) and Queen Sonja (second from left), at Oslo City Hall

The 51-year-old royal put her personal health struggles and her son’s assault scandal to one side to join her husband, heir to the throne Crown Prince Haakon (right), and his parents, reigning monarch King Harald V (left) and Queen Sonja (second from left), at Oslo City Hall

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (pictured) looked striking in an embroidered cream high neck coat by Valentino Garavani

Crown Princess Mette-Marit (pictured) looked striking in an embroidered cream high neck coat by Valentino Garavani

Queen Sonja, 87, looked typically elegant in a turquoise skirt suit with a matching hat

Queen Sonja, 87, looked typically elegant in a turquoise skirt suit with a matching hat

King Harald V, also 87, looked smart in a black suit paired with a purple tie

King Harald V, also 87, looked smart in a black suit paired with a purple tie

The mother of Haakon, the future King of Norway, looked cheerful as she posed for photographers. 

King Harald V, also 87, looked smart in a black suit paired with a purple tie. Towering over his wife, Harald looked in good health despite relying on a walking stick.

The Norwegian royals put on a smiling display today despite having endured a difficult few weeks. 

Mette-Marit has been gradually returning to her official royal duties after she fell ill due to medicinal side effects associated with her chronic lung disease.

In late October, the Norwegian Royal Court confirmed to Femail that she was taking some time off, saying: ‘H.K.H. The Crown Princess is on sick leave.

‘Due to side effects of the medication that Her Royal Highness is using for her chronic lung disease, she is on sick leave, initially for a week. Her official program during this period will be cancelled or postponed.’

Another source of anguish has been Mette-Marit’s son and Haakon’s stepson Marius Borg Høiby, often referred to as the ‘black sheep’ of the royal family of Norway.

Currently awaiting trial on charges of rape and domestic violence, the 27-year-old found himself in hot water again yesterday after breaching a restraining order against one of his alleged victims.

The Norwegian Royal Family wasn't the only Royal Household attending a Nobel Prize today - with the Swedish Royals putting on a dazzling display as they gathered in Stockholm for the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony

The Norwegian Royal Family wasn’t the only Royal Household attending a Nobel Prize today – with the Swedish Royals putting on a dazzling display as they gathered in Stockholm for the Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony

Attending the annual occasion was Prince Carl Philip, his pregnant wife Princess Sofia, and Princess Victoria's sister Princess Madeleine (pictured left)

Attending the annual occasion was Prince Carl Philip, his pregnant wife Princess Sofia, and Princess Victoria’s sister Princess Madeleine (pictured left)

King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia, dressed in a metallic violet gown, were joined by heir to the Swedish throne Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel at the glittering ceremony
Victoria, 47, complemented her mother's ensemble by wearing a dark purple off-the-shoulders floor-length dress and a dazzling tiara

King Carl Gustaf of Sweden and Queen Silvia, dressed in a metallic violet gown, were joined by heir to the Swedish throne Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel at the glittering ceremony

The Nobel Prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics are awarded in Sweden, while the one for peace is awarded in Norway. Pictured, Princess Madeleine

The Nobel Prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry, literature and economics are awarded in Sweden, while the one for peace is awarded in Norway. Pictured, Princess Madeleine

Queen Silvia and Prince Daniel at the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm
Queen Silvia and Prince Daniel at the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm

Queen Silvia and Prince Daniel at the Nobel Prize award ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm

After leaving a rehab facility in London, the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon, is said to have contacted one of the women, breaching the terms of the order, according to Norwegian media. It’s not clear if Borg Høiby has been arrested again.

His first arrest was on August 4th for an assault, he was then arrested again on September 13 for a different alleged assault and a third time in November on rape charges.

Late last month, Borg Høiby was released from custody after he was arrested on suspicion of rape.

Borg Høiby – who has been accused of a second rape – was banned from having visitors and letters during his stay in custody due to the risk of tampering with evidence, NRK reported.

Police have said they would not seek further detention of Borg Høiby because they believe there is no longer a danger that evidence will be lost or destroyed.

At the time, police allegedly requested that Borg Høiby be detained for two weeks, but he was only held for one, according to local paper Se Og Hor.

They also reported that he has been given two new restraining orders. Speaking of Borg Høiby’s release, his defence lawyer Øyvind Bratlien told NRK: ‘This was not surprising. He shouldn’t have been imprisoned at all. I think it was wrong, I won’t say more.’

Oslo police also began an investigation into a new allegation of a sexual offence, for which he has not been charged, NRK reported. Details about the new allegations were not immediately available.

Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby (pictured), is in hot water again after breaching a restraining order against one of his alleged victims yesterday

Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby (pictured), is in hot water again after breaching a restraining order against one of his alleged victims yesterday

Borg Høiby is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon, and the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from a previous relationship. He has no royal title or official duties.

He was arrested last week in Oslo on a preliminary charge of having had ‘sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons unable to resist the act.’

A preliminary charge comes before a formal charge and allows authorities to detain suspects during an investigation.

At the time, police did not say when the alleged rape occurred, but only that ‘the victim must have been unable to resist the act.’ Norwegian media reported that Borg Høiby has denied the accusation.

‘Marius is facing serious accusations, which the police and the judiciary will deal with… I am convinced they will do a good job,’ Prince Haakon told public broadcaster NRK before the detention order last week.

Speaking about the second allegation, police lawyer Andreas Kruszewski had said it ‘involves sexual intercourse without consent with a woman incapable of resisting the act’.

Investigators searched and seized items from Borg Høiby’s home. The police investigation is ongoing, and no trial date has been set.

Since his arrest, a shocking video of Borg Høiby has been shared with the Norwegian publication Se og Hør, which allegedly shows the former mechanic illustrating how he ended the relationship with an ex.

Borg Høiby is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon, and the son of Mette-Marit from a previous relationship

Borg Høiby is the stepson of the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon, and the son of Mette-Marit from a previous relationship

In the clip, Borg Høiby is reportedly asked: ‘How did you break up with your last girlfriend?’. Shrugging his shoulders, he then leans forward towards the camera as he makes a slapping gesture with his hands.

It is not known when the video was recorded – but it was allegedly published in a group in Borg Høiby’s own network, which consists of around 50 people.

Borg Høiby’s lawyer, Bratlien, said his client was innocent and was opposed to being held in preventive detention.

Bratlien said he would appeal the detention ruling, but welcomed the fact that judges had not granted the police request for a two-week detention. ‘We consider that promising,’ he said in a written statement to NRK.

The rape charge comes after he was accused of bodily harm following a late-night row on August 4 at the Oslo apartment of a woman he was having a relationship with, police said.

Norwegian media reported that police found a knife stuck in one of the woman’s bedroom walls at the time.

Borg Høiby in a later statement to the media admitted to causing her bodily harm while he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol and of damaging her apartment. He said he regretted his acts.

Borg Høiby was arrested again in September for breaching a restraining order.

The Norwegian royal family was rocked by Borg Høiby's first arrest at the beginning of August. Pictured with his mother in 2016

The Norwegian royal family was rocked by Borg Høiby’s first arrest at the beginning of August. Pictured with his mother in 2016 

When he was detained last Monday, he was in a car with the alleged victim of the August incident, according to police.

Borg Høiby was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 20, and Prince Sverre Magnus, 18. Unlike them however he has no official public role.

The Norwegian royal family was rocked by Borg Høiby’s first arrest at the beginning of August, after a woman – Rebecca Helberg Arntsen – was left in hospital with her injuries following an attack.

A week after his arrest, Borg Høiby admitted to the assault on Rebecca, whom he referred to as his ‘girlfriend’ (her lawyers have refuted this claim).

In a statement issued via his own lawyer, Borg Høiby said he suffers from ‘several mental disorders’ and has ‘struggled with substance abuse for a long time’, which he said he is resuming treatment for.

The statement read: ‘Last weekend something happened that should never have happened. I committed bodily harm and destroyed objects in an apartment in the intoxication of alcohol and cocaine after an argument.

‘I have several mental disorders which mean that throughout my upbringing and adult life, I have had, and still have, challenges. I have struggled with substance abuse for a long time, something I have been in treatment for in the past.

‘The drug use and my diagnoses do not excuse what happened in the apartment at Frogner on the night of Sunday last weekend. I want to be responsible for what I have done, and will explain myself truthfully to the police.

When he turned 20, the royal court announced Marius was stepping away from public life and his profile was removed from the family's official website

When he turned 20, the royal court announced Marius was stepping away from public life and his profile was removed from the family’s official website

‘For me, the most important thing is to say sorry to my girlfriend. She deserved neither what happened that night, nor the extreme pressure from both the Norwegian and foreign press afterwards.’

Mette-Marit’s eldest son also apologised to his family for his actions that have ‘greatly affected you’.

Weeks later, the 27-year-old was taken into custody after breaching a restraining order.

The restraining order in question was for the protection of Rebecca Helberg Arntsen, whom Borg Høiby admitted to assaulting, in a booze and drug-fuelled attack on 4 August, which saw him arrested for the first time and held in a police cell overnight.