Norway royal’s son pleads not guilty to four counts of rape, amid Epstein link scandal

The son of Norway’s crown princess pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to four counts of rape at the opening of a trial that has embarrassed the royal family.Marius Borg Hoiby, Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s 29-year-old son from a relationship before her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, stood and muttered a negative response when asked to enter a plea to the four counts of rape.Clad in green trousers and a green jumper, wearing bold glasses and earrings, Hoiby remained expressionless as his trial got under way.Hoiby faces a total of 38 charges, including assaulting ex-girlfriends and a serious drug offence in addition to the four counts of rape, and risks up to 16 years in prison if found guilty.He pleaded guilty to some of the more minor offences.Marius Borg Hoiby (right) next to his mother, Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, as they attend a garden party in 2016. Photo: AFPHe was arrested again on Sunday evening on suspicion of assault, making threats with a knife and violating a restraining order, and was remanded in custody for four weeks.