Rapist stepson of Norway’s new King is shunned by his step-grandmother Queen Sonja at her husband’s funeral…and earns a glare from the Bishop

The disgraced stepson of Norway’s new monarch appeared to be shunned by his step-grandmother Queen Sonja at the funeral of her husband King Harald V’s on Wednesday.

Marius Borg Høiby, 29, who has no royal title or duties, is currently serving a four-year prison sentence under house arrest at his parents’ Skaugum Estate while he appeals his conviction for two counts of rape. 

He joined his stepfather King Haakon VIII, and half-siblings Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, now heir to the throne, and Prince Sverre Magnus, as well as his mother Queen Mette-Marit at Oslo Cathedral for the service.

However, in a sign of his fall from grace, Høiby, dubbed the ‘black sheep’ of the Royal Family was sat in the row behind his loved ones, with his step-aunt Princess Martha Louise and her daughters.

He also appeared to be shunned by his step-grandmother Queen Sonja. In a video shared online on X, Harald’s widow, 89, hugged each one of Martha Louise’s daughter, who Høiby arrived alongside.

But when the moment came for her step-grandson to come forward for an affectionate greeting, the Queen started a conversation with the Bishop of Oslo Sunniva Gylver, perhaps hoping to avoid hugging the rapist. 

It’s unclear if the two shared a more positive hello off camera, since Høiby wasn’t seen during the entirety of the clip.

Meanwhile, the Bishop looked somewhat stern as she greeted Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship on the steps of the cathedral ahead of the service. 

Høiby previously joined his relatives to carry the coffin of Harald from the Royal Palace to the palace chapel last week while temporarily released, sparking fierce backlash from royal fans.

Haakon’s stepson was convicted on two counts of rape and jailed for four years following a six-week trial that laid bare allegations of violence, drug abuse and sexual misconduct.

An Oslo court also found him guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, Nora Haukland, issuing threats and committing traffic offences, although he was acquitted of two other rape charges.

The 29-year-old had been charged with sexually assaulting four women who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024.

The conviction marked a fall for Hoiby, who grew up in the public eye after his mother married then Crown Prince Haakon in 2001 when he was just four years old.

Although he does not hold a royal title or carry out official duties, he has long been closely associated with the Norwegian royal family.

Judge Jon Sverdrup Efjestad handed down the sentence after hearing evidence linked to 40 charges, including four alleged rapes, assaults, breaches of restraining orders, drug offences and driving violations. One charge relating to a restraining-order violation was overturned.

The court heard how Hoiby’s drug addiction spiralled in recent years, while investigators presented more than 800 messages and a series of self-made videos of sexual encounters as evidence during the trial.

One alleged rape took place in the basement of the family home, the court was told.

Høiby, who denied the most serious allegations, including rape, while admitting to some lesser offences, was not physically present in court for the verdict and instead joined proceedings via video link.

Haakon and Mette-Marit were pictured visiting Høiby in custody ahead of the sentencing in June, but they did not attend the high-profile trial that rocked the country.

Ahead of the trial, Haakon made his longest statement about the charges against Høiby, noting ‘we care about him and he is an important member of our family’, while reiterating that his stepson is not a working royal and does not have any titles. 

The monarch said: ‘Our thoughts are with everyone who is affected by this case. It has an impact on the individuals, their families and all those who care about them. We understand that this is a difficult time for many of you, and we sympathise. 

‘At the same time, it is reassuring to know that we live in a state governed by the rule of law. I am confident that those responsible for overseeing the proceedings will ensure that the trial is conducted in as orderly, proper, and just a manner as possible. 

‘Marius Borg Høiby is not a member of the Royal House of Norway and is therefore autonomous. We care about him, and he is an important member of our family. He is a citizen of Norway and, as such, has the same responsibilities as everyone else – as well as the same rights.’

On Thursday, royals from around the world including Prince William and Princess Anne attended the funeral of King Harald V.

The Prince of Wales represented his father King Charles at the service at Oslo Cathedral, while his aunt, the Princess Royal, attended in a private and personal capacity as godmother of the new King Haakon.

They were joined by other royals, including King Felipe of Spain, Queen Rania of Jordan and Princess Charlene of Monaco. 

The coffin was taken from the palace to the cathedral in a procession of senior Norwegian royals including King Haakon, foreign guests and representatives from Norway’s and other parliaments. 

Haakon walked behind the coffin, draped with the red Norwegian royal standard, alongside his eldest child Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, his son Prince Sverre Magnus and his sister Princess Martha Louise.

Queen Mette-Marit, who missed her husband’s swearing-in ceremony due to ‘complications’ from her recent lung transplant surgery in June, and Harald’s widow Queen Sonja followed the coffin in a car.  

King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden also joined the procession.

Political leaders including Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Store, German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy were also in attendance. 

The public lined the streets of the Norwegian capital in their thousands to bid a final farewell to Harald, who reigned for 35 years.

Scores of churches, libraries, cultural centres and city halls were also making big screens available for the public to watch the funeral, public broadcaster NRK reported.

A 21-gun salute rang out over the capital at the start of the funeral procession.

The Norwegian royal house also has kinfolk in other European royal families. Harald and Haakon are related to both King Charles and Spain’s King Felipe, who are all descendants of Queen Victoria. 

King Harald V passed away on August 28 at the age of 89 after suffering a rare blood condition known as haemolytic anaemia.

His son immediately became King Haakon VIII and last week pledged an oath of allegiance to Norway’s constitution in parliament.

Ahead of the funeral, Norwegians waited patiently to file past Harald’s coffin as it lay in state in the chapel of the royal palace in Oslo, with the queue stretching seven hours long over the weekend.

After the funeral, Harald’s coffin will be taken in a procession to the palace chapel at Akershus Castle, where the late king’s ancestors are buried.

After a private ceremony for the Norwegian royals, who will be joined by some of the foreign guests and senior Norwegian officials, it will be lowered into the crypt.

Today, the throne’s role in Norway is largely symbolic and power lies with the elected government and parliament, but the Norwegian royal family retains a role in promoting the wealthy Scandinavian nation around the world.

Norway’s monarchy traces its origins to King Harald Fairhair in the ninth century. When Norway regained its independence from Sweden in 1905, three-quarters of voters in a national plebiscite approved restoring the monarchy.

A minute’s silence was held across Norway at the start of the funeral ceremony. Eulogies were delivered by Norway’s parliament speaker and prime minister, and there was a candle-lighting ceremony with representatives of different faiths.

The government says it’s not an official holiday, but schools and workplaces could individually opt to let students and employees tune in for today’s events. The government advised that ‘noisy events should be suspended while the funeral is ongoing’.