Queen Mette-Marit's disgraced son Marius Borg Høiby has joined members of Norway's royal family at the Royal Palace in Oslo for the ceremony to move King Harald's bier from the Royal Palace to the Palace Chapel, where members of the public will be able to pay their respects to the late Norwegian monarch.
© NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesThe 29-year-old was pictured alongside King Haakon, Princess Märtha Louise, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, as they carried the late monarch's coffin through the palace, accompanied by court staff.
© Alamy Stock PhotoThe appearance of King Haakon's stepson will be a controversial one for many, as Marius is currently under house arrest after being convicted of several crimes in June this year, a conviction he is currently appealing.
© Alamy Stock PhotoMarius's mother, Queen Mette-Marit, was also present at the procession, which is one of the few times she has been seen in public since undergoing a lung transplant earlier in the year.
© Alamy Stock PhotoWhy has Marius left house arrest?
In June this year, Marius was found guilty of two counts of rape among other offences, and sentenced to four years in prison. He has denied the most serious charges.
Queen Mette-Marit's oldest child is currently under house arrest at the royal estate of Skaugum while his legal team appeals the sentencing.
Despite this, Marius was granted permission to leave house arrest under electronic monitoring, firstly on 27 August to visit his step-grandfather in the National Hospital, then on 28 August to Bygdøy Royal Palace following Harald's death, and again on 31 August to participate in the bier ceremony.
© AlamyPolice attorney Oda Karterud said: "The prosecution has found reason to grant Høiby's requests for an exit in connection with the death."
How is Marius connected to the Norwegian royal family?
Marius is the son of Queen Mette-Marit and her former partner Morten Borg. He was just four years old when his mother married into Norway's royal family. While not a royal himself, he remains closely linked to the family.
© Getty ImagesSpeaking to reporters ahead of his stepson's trial, then-Crown Prince Haakon addressed the women and their families.
"We love him, of course, he's an important part of our family," he said, then addressing the women directly: "We care about them. We know many of you are going through a difficult time right now."
Per the Norwegian outlet VG, during the trial Marius broke down as he discussed an allegation that his mother and step-father had claimed his struggles were not their responsibility.
"I don't know anyone who has worked harder for me to be okay. Mom and Haakon have only ever been the kindest people in the world, both to [Marius's former partner] Nora and to me. The way they’re being described here makes me incredibly angry," he said.
What was Marius accused of?
In total, the son of Norway's Queen was accused of 38 crimes and four rapes. Among the charges are four rapes of four different women, abuse in relationships, violent acts, public disorder, property damage, violation of a restraining order against an ex-girlfriend, illegal intimate recordings of women, death threats, harassment of police officers, and traffic offenses.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesHe has admitted to years of struggles with substance abuse and spoken of "several mental illnesses" throughout recent years, but while he admitted guilt on lesser charges, he continues to deny sexual offences.
