On February 3, Høiby will appear in Oslo District Court, where he is facing 38 charges; however, his mother and stepfather, Crown Prince Haakon, have confirmed that they will not be present. The counts on which he is charged include alleged rape, abuse in a close relationship against one former partner, and acts of violence against another, making death threats, and traffic violations.

The update comes one day after Marius was handed six more charges, including those for allegedly transporting 3.5 kilograms of marijuana and two under the Traffic Act. In a new statement confirming they will not be in court, the Crown Prince also said the Royal Family does not wish to comment on the trial and that official duties will continue. He adds that the Crown Princess will spend a few weeks at a private residence.

In an update posted on the Norwegian Royal Family website, a statement read: “We are thinking a lot about all the parties involved in this matter. This is something that affects them, their families, those who love them. We care about them. We know that many of you are going through a difficult time right now.

“At the same time, it is good to know that we live in a state governed by the rule of law. I am sure and have confidence that those responsible for the trial will work to ensure that it is conducted in as orderly, proper and fair a manner as possible.

“Marius Borg Høiby is not part of the Royal Family, so in that sense he is free. But we love him, of course, and he is an important part of our family. And he is a citizen of Norway. Through that, he has the same responsibilities as everyone else, but also the same rights.”

Until the end of last year, the Royal Family had remained largely quiet on Marius’s case. However, in an interview with the Times in December, the Crown Princess spoke about the limitations she has owing to her pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis, before rejecting claims that she had tipped her son off about his impending arrest with a phone call.

“I think it’s been quite a strain to be accused of such serious things, which of course I did not do,” Mette-Marit said. “The thing that perhaps upsets me the most is being criticised for how we’ve handled it as parents, that we didn’t take it seriously. I find that hard.”

Mette-Marit said the family had sought “professional help” for her son. “So it feels a little unfair [to claim] that we didn’t take the situation seriously, because I think we have,” she said. “Being a parent is the most vulnerable thing you can do. And I think all parents … will recognise that there is an incredible amount of self-blame involved.”