The family scandals that propelled Norway's monarchy into the global spotlight – and why the scrutiny will only intensify next year

The Norwegian royal family will come under intense scrutiny in the coming months as the stepson of the future King faces trial on charges of rape and assault.

The criminal case against Marius Borg Høiby has propelled the small monarchy into the global spotlight, taking them from one of the lesser-known royal families to one of the most talked about.

And it's not just Høiby's trial responsible for the added attention: the actions of the King's daughter, Princess Märtha Louise and her American husband, Shaman Durek Verrett, have prompted some to ask of the monarchy's future, "is the beginning of the end?"

Norway's royal family has faced one of its most challenging years but the scrutiny is set to increase next year.

The House of Glücksburg has ruled Norway since 1905 and its current monarch is King Harald V, who is 88. The Norwegian monarchy dates back more than 1000 years, making it one of Europe's oldest.

But it's never faced the level of scrutiny it has been subjected to over the past 18 months.

"Everything they do is being overshadowed by these two scandals. It really affects their work, it is personally very hard for them," Kristi Marie Skrede, royal correspondent from Norway's national broadcaster NRK, told nine.com.au recently.

"Some people say this is the beginning of the end. There are people saying King Harald should be the last king."

Marius Borg Hoiby with his sister Princess Ingrid Alexandra, mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and stepfather Crown Prince Haakon.

The criminal trial against Marius Borg Høiby

Last year, Høiby – the 28-year-old son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit and stepson of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon – was arrested.

In August, Oslo's state attorney filed charges against Høiby. He is accused of 32 crimes including domestic abuse and rape, most of which he denies, and faces 10 years in prison if convicted.

While the King and his wife Queen Sonja, who is also 88, are not expected to attend the proceedings, the Crown Prince couple are likely to be there.

"It's their son, her son and the crown prince's stepson," Skrede said, "I think they will support him, but of course it's difficult."

While Høiby was never given a royal title when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001, he grew up as a member of the royal house and was often seen attending engagements with the family.

He and the Crown Prince couple's other two children – Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus – grew up together.

She has returned to Norway for Christmas and had a number of official engagements with her family before she is due to resume university in February.

Her return to Australia early next year will come as the trial of her brother begins in Oslo.

Of the princess' decision to study in Australia, and not in the US like her father did many years ago, Skrede said: "I think she is happy to be [in Australia], far away from all the problems".

"It gives her the possibility to concentrate on her studies and to concentrate on being a young woman and spending time with her friends."

However, "she wants to to support her brother," Skrede said.

"The problems that her brother is dealing with, the fact that he is charged with very serious crimes – rape and assaulting an ex-girlfriend – that's very hard.

"I know they are a close family and experiencing this in a family like that is very hard."

Some might wonder why Princess Ingrid Alexandra chose Australia, so far away from Norway during a time when it can be argued her family needed her presence more than ever.

"She wants to be Ingrid. She's not ready to be an official person yet," Skrede said.

"Moving so far away from home from her old grandparents – the King and Queen, they're 88 – and we know about the family's struggles.

"Choosing to move so far away when they really need her there, that tells us that it's important for her to be free as Ingrid."

Princess Märtha Louise 'stabbing her father in the back'

Several months ago there were renewed calls for Princess Ingrid Alexandra's aunty, Princess Märtha Louise, to be stripped of her royal titles after she and her husband took part in the Netflix documentary Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story.

Much of the documentary focused on Princess Märtha Louise's royal connections and Shaman Durek preparing to marry into the Norwegian royal family.

The King and Queen's eldest daughter, who is fourth-in-line to the throne, has an agreement with the Royal House that they will not use their title or affiliation with the royal family in any commercial or business activities.

"Seventy per cent of Norwegians say in several opinion polls that she should lose her princess title now," Skrede said.

"But the King, when he was asked about this, he said, 'No, we are not removing the title, she's still a princess as of now'.

"And that tells me that it's possible. If he won't do it, the Crown Prince might do it when he is King one day."

Princess Märtha Louise has been accused of

The King and Queen were particularly hurt by the documentary, Skrede said.

"They are really sad, they were devastated. We can see that this is really hard on them," she said.

"Many commentators, many newspapers in Norway have pointed out that she's stabbing her father in the back.

"She is really letting her family down, because she has promised not to participate in productions like this."

Affection for King Harald remains high, with 70 per cent supporting the country having a monarchy.

"But more and more Norwegians are expressing scepticism because of all the things happening, especially around Marius and Märtha and Durek Verrett," she said.

In situations like these, attention invariably turns to the future of the institution.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra will one day make history by becoming Norway's first queen regnant in more than 600 years.

Skrede and her colleagues travelled to Australia in late October to film a documentary that aired last week, which recapped the royal family's busy year.

It also explored Princess Ingrid Alexandra's move to Sydney and her place as second-in-line to the throne after her father.

"It's important to see how the next generation royals are doing while the whole royal family is experiencing difficult times," Skrede said.

"What we are asking is 'what kind of kingdom will they inherit when all these problems have hopefully solved?'

"Can Ingrid manage to be in the public eye with all this happening?

"I asked myself that, too."

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