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Marius Borg Høiby's involvement in the solemn royal occasion has provoked criticism across Norway
Queen Mette-Marit of Norway's eldest son, Marius Borg Høiby, who is serving a four-year sentence for rape, was granted temporary release from house arrest to take part in the funeral proceedings for King Harald V.
The 29-year-old, who was found guilty on two counts of rape, received permission to join Monday evening's procession and will also attend the state funeral scheduled for September 9 at Oslo Cathedral.
Høiby was convicted earlier this year following his arrest in August 2024. He faced a total of 40 charges, including domestic violence, drug offences, restraining order breaches and traffic violations alongside the rape counts.
Out of those 40 counts, the judges found him guilty on 34 charges and acquitted him on six, which included two of the four rape allegations.
While firmly denying the rape allegations, Høiby did admit guilt to several lesser offences, which included drug possession, driving violations, and an instance of physical assault against an ex-girlfriend during an argument.
His legal team has lodged appeals against both the conviction and the sentence. Under Norwegian law, an appeal suspends the binding status of a court ruling pending retrial, which is why Høiby is serving his time under house arrest at his parents' Skaugum Estate rather than behind bars.
His involvement in the solemn royal occasion has provoked criticism across Norway.
During the procession through the Royal Palace in Oslo, Høiby was positioned at the rear of the coffin and was one of eight family members who bore it to the Palace chapel.
King Haakon VIII, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus joined him, along with Princess Märtha Louise and her three daughters, Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora and Emma Tallulah Behn.
Throughout the proceedings, Høiby remained subject to electronic monitoring via an ankle tag.
The decision to permit Høiby's release drew sharp public backlash, with the presence of a convicted rapist at the beloved monarch's farewell overshadowing the Norwegian Royal Family's mourning.
One said: "I think it is a bad look. However maybe he was super close to his grandfather."
Another commented: "I could understand being allowed to attend the funeral. But giving him such a prominent role is not right in my opinion. When I first saw the photo I was very surprised."
However, some royal fans defended the move, with one writing on X: "I believe that in this case the sense of family concerning the farewell of a grandfather has prevailed. Showing mercy to someone who has made a mistake in life is Christian."
Police prosecutor Oda Karterud told AFP: "The public prosecutor deemed that there were grounds to grant the requests for leave submitted by Høiby in connection with the death."
GB News has contacted the Royal House of Norway for comment.
Høiby had previously been given dispensation to visit King Harald in hospital before the 89-year-old's death on Friday.
Queen Mette-Marit walked behind the coffin beside King Harald's widow, Queen Sonja, in what marked the new Queen's first public appearance since undergoing a lung transplant in June to treat pulmonary fibrosis.
At the head of the cortège, the King's chief of staff and the royal secretariat's head bore the Crown of Norway and the sword of the kingdom.
King Haakon VIII formally swore his constitutional oath on Tuesday. Queen Mette-Marit was absent from the ceremony owing to complications from her June lung transplant.
Norway remains in a period of national mourning following King Harald's death from complications linked to haemolytic anaemia. The state funeral will be led by Olav Fykse Tveit, the Church of Norway's presiding bishop.
