When Marius Borg Høiby stands up in room 250 at Oslo district court on Tuesday, at the start of Norway's biggest trial in years, he will have no moral support from his closest relatives. His mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit will not be there, nor will the man she married when her son was four - the heir to the Norwegian throne, Crown Prince Haakon.
For the next seven weeks there will be no pictures of the blond 29-year-old either inside the court or outside - the court has banned them - but the world's press is here in numbers and the Norwegian palace is keeping well away.
Høiby is accused of 38 charges, including the rape of four women, assaulting and threatening a girlfriend, damaging her flat, as well as drugs charges and driving offences. If found guilty, he could face more than 10 years in jail.
The palace stresses Høiby is not part of the royal family and that he is not a public figure. But he is considered a close member of the family, by his stepfather the crown prince who sees him as a son, and by Norway's much-loved King Harald V, 88, who he has known for much of his life as his grandfather.
It's a very dangerous moment because the royal family should be role models, says journalist Ulf Andre Andersen, who broke the story for the magazine Se og Hør in early August 2024 when police were called to a woman's flat in Oslo after reports of a violent incident.
Høiby has admitted to some of the lesser offences and after his arrest, admitted physical abuse and destroying objects. The indictments allege he damaged property including a chandelier and verbally abused his ex-girlfriend.
The rape charges date from 2018 to 2024, with allegations of sexual assault while the women were incapacitated, which is counted as rape under Norwegian law.
Amidst this turmoil, Crown Prince Haakon has spoken of his concern for the victims, addressing the public with empathy, which highlights the human side amidst the scandal. His stepson has admitted to struggles with substance abuse and mental illness, acknowledging the depth of the crisis surrounding his personal life.
The trial has sparked a wider discussion in Norway regarding royal duties and accountability, challenging the public's perception of the monarchy and its role in contemporary society.
