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(NewsNation) — Another week, and more drama with the European royals.
Marius Borg Høiby, the stepson of Crown Prince Haakon and the son of Princess Mette Marit (from her first marriage) was arrested for rape.
According to an announcement by the Norwegian police, Marius was taken into custody and charged with “sexual intercourse with someone who is unconscious or for other reasons is unable to resist the act.”
“Høiby only pleads guilty to a case of one incident of bodily harm against his last girlfriend, criminal damage in her apartment and a threat. For the other circumstances, he does not admit criminal guilt,” his defense attorney Øyvind Bratlien told NBC News by email on Tuesday.
This is not the first time the pampered playboy has been in trouble this year. In August he was arrested for causing bodily harm and property damage after a violent incident in Oslo. The charges also included domestic abuse.
According to NBC, Borg Høiby has also pleaded guilty to charges of having made a death threat against a man in a separate incident. And he has pleaded not guilty to separate charges related to two past relationships.
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VANCOUVER, CANADA – NOVEMBER 17: Prince Harry acknowledges fans prior to the start of a TV interview during pre-game festivities before the start of the 2024 Grey Cup at BC Place on November 17, 2024 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) -
VANCOUVER, CANADA – NOVEMBER 18: Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, meets with high school students during the Invictus Games 2025 School Program Launch Event at Seaforth Armoury on November 18, 2024 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Ethan Cairns/Getty Images) -
MASERU, LESOTHO – OCTOBER 01: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at a welcome event at Sentebale’s Mamohato Children’s Centre featuring the non-profit’s Let Youth Lead advocates from Botswana, and a celebration of Basatho culture, on October 1, 2024 in Maseru, Lesotho. (Photo by Brian Otieno/Getty Images for Sentebale ) -
VANCOUVER, CANADA – NOVEMBER 18: Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, opens an Invictus bag during the Invictus Games 2025 School Program Launch Event at Seaforth Armoury on November 18, 2024 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Ethan Cairns/Getty Images) -
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 30: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex smiles as he attends the Wellchild Awards 2024 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on September 30, 2024 in London, England. WellChild is a national charity supporting seriously ill children and their families. Many children remain in hospital due to a lack of support for home care. Through its network of nurses, home makeovers, and family programs, WellChild helps children thrive at home. Prince Harry has been the charity’s Patron since 2007 and has attended their Awards Ceremony 12 times. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Prince Harry outshines his wife
Across the pond in America, former British royal Prince Harry is making inroads to make himself likable again… and it’s working. Earlier this week Harry released a cheeky promo video for the Invictus Games in which he agreed to get a tattoo by JellyRoll if the singer performed at the closing ceremonies for the wounded warrior event in Whistler, Vancouver, on November 20… and ended up with a “I AM JellyRoll” “tattoo” on his neck (rest assured — it’s fake). Barenaked Ladies will also perform at the event.
”It’s what Harry does best,” a friend told me. “He was always the most likable of all the royals and now that he’s focusing on charitable works stopped selling out his family at every turn he’s shining.”
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 05: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the 2024 Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) Gala at L.A. Live Event Deck Top Floor Of The West Lot on October 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images) -
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – AUGUST 15: Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attends the ‘Responsible Digital Future’ forum at EAN University in Bogota, Colombia on August 15, 2024. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle land in Colombia to join Marquez in discussions with women and youth on combating discrimination and cyberbullying. (Photo by Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images) -
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – AUGUST 15: Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit Delia Zapata Art Center in Bogota, Colombia on August 15, 2024. (Photo by Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images) -
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – AUGUST 15: Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit Delia Zapata Art Center in Bogota, Colombia on August 15, 2024. (Photo by Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images) -
BOGOTA, COLOMBIA – AUGUST 15: Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit Delia Zapata Art Center in Bogota, Colombia on August 15, 2024. (Photo by Juancho Torres/Anadolu via Getty Images) -
ABUJA, NIREGIA – MAY 11: Britain’s Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan (L), Duchess of Sussex, attend an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered, a community-based charitable organization dedicated to aiding wounded, injured, or sick servicemembers, as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary in Abuja, Nigeria on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty Images) -
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 03: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Friday, June 3, 2022 on the second of four days of celebrations to mark the Platinum Jubilee. The events over a long holiday weekend in the U.K. are meant to celebrate the monarch’s 70 years of service. (Photo by Matt Dunham – WPA Pool/Getty Images) -
TOPSHOT – Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry (R) and his wife, Meghan Markle embrace at The Invictus Games in The Hague on April 16, 2022. The Invictus Games is an international sporting event for servicemen and veterans who have been psychologically or physically injured in their military service. (Photo by Remko de Waal / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by REMKO DE WAAL/ANP/AFP via Getty Images) -
THE HAGUE – The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, during the athletics section of the fifth edition of the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for servicemen and veterans who have been psychologically or physically injured during their military service. ANP SEM VAN DER WAL (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
Meghan Markle’s bad week
Meanwhile, Harry’s wife Meghan — who is sticking with her commercial activities — isn’t faring so well.
“She doesn’t know what she’s doing,” the friend added. “She may have shot some episodes for Netflix on her cooking show — but who wants to watch her cooking in a ballgown and an impossibly expensive house? And she still doesn’t have a CEO or anyone to head up that venture. I wouldn’t be shocked if Netflix ends up dropping it — they pull a a lot of things they’ve spent money on and preshot.”
Meanwhile, Montecito is getting lonelier for the couple as their closest friends and next-door neighbors — Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi just announced they’re moving to Harry’s former homeland, England, citing President’s Trump inauguration (although let’s be honest — DeGeneres could use a fresh start somewhere else after the past couple years where she’s fielded accusations of being the boss from hell), the couple are looking for a fresh start and selling their Montecito home which they bought in 2019 for $19 million.
On the bright side, Harry and Meghan will now have a place to stay should the family ever venture across the pond together (Meghan has steadfastly refused to return to England after getting a chilly reception at the Queen’s funeral in September 2022.)
Albania in love
And finally, some royally good news: Crown Prince Leka of Albania not only moved on after his divorce from actress Elia Zaharia, he’s now moved in with Berta Celibashi, the gorgeous young photographer he’s been dating for a year.
I hung out with the duo during my recent trip to Albania and can say they are a delight together. Bonus: She loves his daughter… and wants kids of her own. Leka, an only child, has always wanted a big family and hopefully, with Blerta, he can achieve his dream.