Norwegian Royal Family

Criticism of Mette-Marit's parenting is harsh

Jenny Alexandersson

Updated 20.24 | Published 18.58

 

Mette-Marit and Haakon with their children in 2020 Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB

A close friendship. A flirtatious tone. A crown princess and a pedofil.

The whole world has been able to read an email conversation that threatens to damage the Norwegian royal family. Perhaps even the relationship with the immediate family.

This was nothing that Crown Princess Mette-Marit needed now. Tomorrow the trial of Mette-Marit's son starts - and everything is at stake.

Mette-Marit says she takes the criticism of her parenting badly. Marius Borg Høiby has said that he has struggled with mental health diagnoses since he was little. Add addiction to that.

It is a guess with low odds that Mette-Marit, Marius' father Morten Borg and bonus father Haakon have fought hard to help Marius for many years.

It has certainly been a tough fight. But diagnoses and abuse do not automatically lead to criminal acts. Bad socializing and a lack of a moral compass are more likely factors. There are of course more.

In "The Year with the Royal Family", the Crown Princess said that she and her family have tried to help Marius and that they have received professional help.

I don't think anyone distrusts the Crown Princess. If you are the future Queen of Norway, you have access to the very best doctors, psychologists and rehabilitation that the country can provide.

It still hasn't helped.

Marius is committing new crimes. As recently as Sunday, Marius was arrested on suspicion of assault, knife threats and breach of restraining orders.

Parenthood and responsibility come up again and again in my email inbox.

People seem to believe that Marius' actions are a direct result of Mette-Marit's motherhood.

It's a slippery slope to think about. Also dangerous because it says so much about how we view mothers' responsibility for their children. Even when the children have just turned 29.

None of the emails or followers on my social media mention the absent father Morten Borg.

No one knows what the fight for Marius has been like. Nor how the relationships within the family have affected – or not affected – him.

We only know that a family is currently in crisis. And tomorrow the relationships will be tested to the breaking point.

Neither Mette-Marit nor Haakon will be in the courtroom. Haakon announced this during a press conference a few days ago.

We all understand that in this catastrophe Mette-Marit cannot be just a mother. She is forever Crown Princess, 24/7. Sitting in a courtroom means that the entire world will follow her every move, glance and word. It has been calculated that the royal family will not be able to bear that burden.

Comments that recur in the email harvest after the latest Epstein bombshell all go to the same tune: “Such a mother, such a son”. If Mette-Marit can have a pedophile as a friend, then it is not so strange if Marius’s morals are failing.

Let’s calm down. Mette-Marit’s friendship is evidence of shockingly poor judgment.

But it is not a conclusion about her motherhood – and even less an explanation for the crimes of a grown man.