Convicted royal son granted leave to attend King Harald's funeral

Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Queen Mette-Marit from a prior relationship, has been allowed to exit house arrest on three occasions to attend to King Harald's death and funeral preparations. Convicted of two rapes and one domestic-violence offence, he is serving a four-year term and is currently appealing the judgment. Høiby was present before the king’s death on August 28, walked alongside the coffin during its transfer from the Red Salon to the Palace Chapel, and has been cleared to attend the September 9 burial, walking behind the casket in the procession.

He resides at the Skaugum royal estate, valued at about $19 million, despite having no claim to the throne. Queen Mette-Marit, recovering from a lung transplant, has not commented publicly, while King Haakon expressed confidence in the legal system’s handling of the case.