Mette-Marit’s son may be released from custody. Prosecutors appeal the decision

Høiby is Mette-Marit’s eldest son from a previous relationship and the stepson of King Haakon. He has no official royal duties. In June 2026, a court sentenced him to four years in prison, including for two rapes and abuse of his former partner, Nora Haukland. Høiby appealed the ruling.

Since July, Høiby has been staying at Skaugum, the family estate in Asker near Oslo. Before that, he spent more than five months in an Oslo prison. The electronic tag makes it possible to monitor whether he complies with restrictions on his whereabouts. Prosecutors wanted his detention extended by another four weeks, citing the risk of further offences. However, the district court found that less restrictive control measures would be sufficient: mandatory reporting and testing.

The prosecutors’ appeal was accompanied by a request to suspend the implementation of the decision. Therefore, permission for release does not yet mean that he will leave custody. The case is to be heard by the Court of Appeal. As reported by the NTB news agency, defence lawyer Daniel Storrvik said that Høiby received the decision with relief but knows it is not final.

According to VG, one of the tests carried out during house arrest detected alcohol. The court found it most likely that Høiby had been drinking the day before the test. It noted, however, that the prison service had not completed its assessment of the incident and had not submitted a formal report of a breach of the conditions of detention. The defence disputes that he consumed alcohol voluntarily. Storrvik stressed that the officials monitoring Høiby had not suspected that he was under its influence.

Prosecutors, on the other hand, consider the test result a breach of the ban and an argument against release. Oda Karterud pointed to the risk of a return to substance use and further offences. The court considered the entire 16-week period of monitoring. Apart from this one result, no other breaches of the ban on using substances were found or suspected. During that time, Høiby also did not contact his former partner, the victim, whom he is prohibited from contacting.

The detention decision does not overturn the June verdict. Separate proceedings concern the assessment of evidence in the case involving two rapes and abuse of Nora Haukland. The first-instance court acquitted Høiby of two other rape charges. According to Advokatbladet, the appeal hearing before the Borgarting Court of Appeal will begin on 9 February 2027. Sixteen hearing days are planned, with the last scheduled for 5 March.