Crown Prince Haakon of Norway has spoken out as his stepson, Marius Borg Høiby, faces 32 criminal abuse charges.

Høiby, 27, was first arrested in August 2024 on accusations that he “attacked” a 20-year-old woman “psychologically and physically,” according to a report from Norwegian outlet Se og Hør.

On Monday, Aug. 18, Norway’s state prosecutor officially charged him with 32 crimes, including one count of rape with sexual intercourse and three counts of rape without intercourse, according to reports from CBS and Reuters.

In his first public remarks since the charges were announced, Prince Haakon told reporters, “We will continue to carry out our duties as best we can, as we always do,” according to Reuters. “Everyone involved in this case probably finds it challenging and difficult.”

Reuters reported that his attorney has said that his client will plead guilty to some lesser crimes but disputes the most serious charges.

“He does not agree with the claims regarding rape and domestic violence,” Sekulic said, according to Reuters.

Høiby is the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit from prior to her 2000 marriage to Crown Prince Haakon. He has never had a royal title or a place in the line of succession, and in 2017, it was announced that he would not have a public role.

Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit also share two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, and Prince Sverre Magnus,19, who are second and third in line to the throne, respectively.

Høiby was last officially photographed with the royal family in June 2022, during a celebration of Ingrid Alexandra’s 18th birthday.

Last year, Høiby was held for 30 hours following his arrest and was eventually released. Prosecutor Sturla Henriksbo told CBS the maximum penalty for the charges is 10 years in prison. The trial is expected to start in January 2026.

“The fact that Marius Borg Høiby is a member of the royal family should, of course, not mean that he should be treated more lightly or more severely than if similar acts had been committed by others,” Henriksbo said.

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According to Reuters, Høiby’s charges include offenses against four different women, as well as allegations that he filmed some of the assaults.

In December 2024, Crown Princess Mette-Marit opened up about the royal family’s “challenging” year in the NRK program The Year of the Royal Family 2024.

“It has been a demanding year and a demanding autumn for us,” she added.

Of the allegations against her son, the princess said Høiby had a right to privacy, telling the show they had been seeking “professional help” and that they had been doing so “for a long time.”

“I don’t think we would have been able to be in a situation like this without having that help, together as a family, and at the same time fulfill our obligations to the Norwegian people,” she said.