• Marius Borg Hoiby, son of Norway's Crown Princess, faces 38 charges, including four counts of rape.
• Hoiby admits to past excesses but denies major allegations during his emotional testimony.
• The trial has intensified scrutiny of Norway’s royal family amid public interest.
• Recent polls show declining support for the monarchy, correlating with ongoing controversies.

Marius Borg Hoiby, the 29-year-old son of Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit, is on trial facing a total of 38 charges, including four counts of rape and one of domestic violence. He admits to some lesser infractions but has pleaded not guilty to the most serious allegations. During his testimony, he revealed a life marked by excess, stating he has an "extreme need for recognition" stemming from being in the public eye since early childhood, which has led to a struggle with substance use and risky behavior, according to SCMP and Channel News Asia.

On his second day of testimony, Hoiby vehemently denied allegations that he drugged one of the alleged victims, asserting, "Never," and addressing queries about his phone’s search history, which included terms related to sexual assault. He has stated that any sexual relations were consensual, disputing claims made by the prosecution about his actions during a 2018 incident, where the victim alleges she was unconscious. He questioned the validity of video evidence purported to show acts of rape, affirming he never shared such material, according to Reuters, SCMP, and Channel News Asia.

The trial, which has captivated public attention in Norway, has coincided with renewed scrutiny of the royal family, particularly concerning Crown Princess Mette-Marit's past ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Recent opinion polls reveal that support for the monarchy is waning, with only 61% of Norwegians favoring its continuation, down from 72% the previous year, as public interest in the ongoing trial continues to grow, as noted by Reuters and Channel News Asia.