Marius Borg Høiby, the stepson of Norway's new monarch King Haakon VIII, was seated in a separate row from his immediate family at the funeral of King Harald V. Høiby, 29, who has no royal title or duties, is currently serving a four-year prison sentence under house arrest while he appeals his conviction for two counts of rape.
During the service at Oslo Cathedral, Høiby was seated behind his mother, Queen Mette-Marit, and his stepfather, King Haakon VIII. He was also seated behind his half-siblings, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the heir to the throne, and Prince Sverre Magnus. Instead, he sat with his step-aunt Princess Martha Louise and her daughters.
In a video circulating on social media, Queen Sonja, King Harald V's widow, was seen hugging Princess Martha Louise's daughters. However, when Høiby approached, Queen Sonja appeared to engage in conversation with the Bishop of Oslo, Sunniva Gylver, potentially to avoid a direct greeting. The bishop also appeared stern when greeting Høiby earlier.
This incident follows a previous public appearance where Høiby, temporarily released from house arrest, helped carry King Harald V's coffin, which drew criticism from some royal fans.
In June, an Oslo court convicted Høiby of two counts of rape, sentencing him to four years in prison. The court also found him guilty of assaulting a former girlfriend, issuing threats, and traffic offenses, though he was acquitted of two other rape charges. The conviction stemmed from allegations of sexual assault against four women between 2018 and 2024. The court heard evidence including over 800 messages and self-made videos.
Høiby's mother, Queen Mette-Marit, and his stepfather, King Haakon VIII, visited him in custody before sentencing but did not attend his trial. King Haakon VIII previously stated that while Høiby is an important member of their family, he is not a working royal and is autonomous as a Norwegian citizen.
King Harald V died on August 28 at the age of 89. His son, Haakon, was sworn in as King Haakon VIII shortly after. The funeral was attended by various European royals, including Prince William and Princess Anne, representing the British royal family, as well as King Felipe of Spain and Queen Rania of Jordan.