Norway's Crown Prince Haakon declared Tuesday that the royal family will carry on official business as usual in spite of his stepson going on trial next year on several criminal charges, calling the time "challenging" for all concerned.
Marius Borg Hoiby, 28, stepson of Haakon and son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was accused on Monday with 32 criminal charges, ranging from the rape of four women to domestic violence and assault. Hoiby denies the most severe charges but will plead guilty to some minor charges, his lawyer confirmed.
The trial would be held in January and would run for about six weeks. If Hoiby is found guilty of the most serious charges, he might be sentenced to 10 years, said the prosecutor.
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In his first public appearance since the charges were issued, Crown Prince Haakon reiterated that the royal family would continue to perform its official duties.
"It is Norway's courts who will determine the fate of the case," Haakon said at the launch of an industry convention. "We will keep on performing our jobs as well as we can, as we always do. All the parties in this case probably find it hard and difficult."
Haakon's statement is a delicate walk between the seriousness of the accusations and upholding the royal family's public function.
The probe into Hoiby was launched last August when police identified him as a suspect in a physical assault on an ex-partner. Hoiby had himself admitted at the time to inflicting bodily harm while intoxicated with cocaine and alcohol and had said how sorry he was.
Hoiby is not a royal title and is out of the line of succession. He is Princess Ingrid Alexandra's older half-brother, who is second in line to the throne behind Crown Prince Haakon.
The case has received substantial media coverage in Norway, not just because of the character of the charges but also because of Hoiby's relationship with the royal family. Onlookers comment that the trial and its ramifications might have a consequence for the public image of the monarchy, even as Haakon and his family go on with their official responsibilities.
