Marius Borg Høiby attends court hearing after meeting on mother’s declining health

Marius Borg Høiby appeared in Oslo District Court on Monday afternoon following a family meeting at Skaugum estate to discuss his mother’s deteriorating condition, Dagbladet reports.

Høiby, 29, told the court he had just returned from an update with medical staff regarding kronprinsesse Mette-Marit’s health, where the royal family was briefed on the risks of her impending lung transplant. The Norwegian Correctional Service facilitated his attendance.

His lawyers have requested his release from pretrial detention, citing the kronprinsesse’s severe illness. She was placed on the transplant waiting list Friday after a rapid decline in lung function due to chronic fibrosis. Doctors at Rikshospitalet described her condition as life-threatening, with her lung capacity dropping sharply in recent months.

Høiby described the emotional strain of weekly prison visits, where his mother has been too weak to stay awake. “The last two times, she’s slept on the sofa because she has no energy,” he testified. “Every Sunday could be the last time I see her.”

If released, Høiby plans to move into his childhood room at Skaugum, adjacent to his sister prinsesse Ingrid Alexandra’s. His transfer to Ila Prison on Wednesday—due to Oslo Prison’s closure—raises uncertainty about future visits, as his mother’s frailty may limit travel.

On Sunday, kronprins Haakon and kronprinsesse Mette-Marit visited Høiby in detention, arriving at 3:30 PM and departing an hour later. “Being together as a family right now is crucial—not just for my mother, but for all of us,” Høiby said.

Transplant surgeons emphasized the procedure’s high risk but noted Mette-Marit meets the criteria: her prognosis without new lungs is less than a year, yet she remains strong enough to endure surgery.