Palace Intrigue : Royal Family gossip

Norway’s most explosive royal scandal deepened as Marius Borg Høiby, the son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, appeared in Oslo District Court and pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape. Prosecutors laid out a sweeping indictment totaling thirty eight charges, including allegations of abuse, secret filming, drug offenses and repeated restraining order violations. Høiby admitted guilt to several lesser charges while denying the most serious accusations.

Prosecutors stressed that royal connections would offer no protection, insisting that Høiby be treated exactly like any other defendant. The court imposed strict reporting restrictions to protect the alleged victims, while Høiby’s defence argued he has been overwhelmed by what they described as a “tsunami of negative publicity.”

The trial has been further complicated by Høiby’s recent rearrest on new allegations involving threats with a knife and breach of a restraining order, leaving him in custody as proceedings continue. With seven weeks of testimony ahead, the case has shaken Norway’s confidence in the royal family’s judgment and oversight.

Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.

Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.

Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 and 2 are fully available now for everyone. Season 3 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 3 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now. 

👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conve

Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files have delivered another deeply embarrassing blow to the House of York, placing Sarah Ferguson — and her daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie — back under an unforgiving spotlight. The emails, sent years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction, show Ferguson expressing warmth, loyalty and dependence on the disgraced financier, with language critics say is impossible to reconcile with his criminal record.

Several of the messages directly reference Beatrice and Eugenie, sometimes casually and sometimes uncomfortably, leaving sources close to the sisters describing them as mortified by the revelations. One exchange includes a crude reference to Eugenie, while others suggest Epstein was welcomed into family life and royal spaces long after he should have been cut off entirely.

Royal commentators argue the emails expose not just personal misjudgment but a broader failure of palace oversight. While Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been stripped of titles and removed from public duties, critics say the slow, reactive response has only prolonged the damage — particularly for Beatrice and Eugenie, who now find themselves tied to a scandal they played no role in creating.

Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.

Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.

Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 and 2 are fully available now for everyone. Season 3 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 3 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now. 

👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conve

Meghan Markle faces fresh online ridicule after unveiling a new black-and-white image for her As Ever brand, with critics accusing her of cosplaying Audrey Hepburn — and others comparing her to Inspector Gadget. Prince Harry is also mocked after being announced as a keynote speaker at a major privacy conference, fueling questions about his standalone appeal. Behind the scenes, sources say tensions are flaring again over Meghan’s social media posts featuring glimpses of their children, reopening old wounds about privacy and control. Commentators pile on claims that Meghan is copying Princess Catherine’s fashion playbook, while PR experts argue Harry is stuck between duty and Hollywood, struggling to manage optics in a world that doesn’t allow selective visibility.

Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.

Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.

Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 and 2 are fully available now for everyone. Season 3 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 3 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now. 

👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conve

Norway’s royal family faces unprecedented scrutiny as Marius Borg Høiby, the adult son of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, appears in court on dozens of serious criminal charges, including multiple rape allegations. Although Høiby holds no royal title, the scale of the case has shaken a monarchy long considered scandal-free, forcing Crown Prince Haakon to publicly distance the institution while emphasizing faith in the rule of law. The trial unfolds amid deep personal strain for the family, including Mette-Marit’s worsening health and renewed attention on past links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Meanwhile, newly released Epstein emails deliver another damaging chapter for the Duke of York’s family, exposing Sarah Ferguson’s intimate correspondence, financial appeals, and apparent role in efforts to rehabilitate Epstein’s reputation long after his conviction. The emails also reference Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, intensifying the reputational fallout. Together, the stories underline how proximity to power, privilege, and silence continue to collide with accountability across Europe’s royal houses.

Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.

Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.

Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 and 2 are fully available now for everyone. Season 3 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 3 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now. 

👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conve

Prince Harry is reportedly left shaken after unflattering court sketches from his High Court appearance go viral, sparking widespread mockery online. Security experts weigh in on whether the Duke should pursue a restraining order against a known stalker as concerns grow over his safety during UK visits. The episode also explores claims that Harry prioritizes keeping Meghan happy amid slipping popularity, his renewed focus on Africa in a deeply personal new book foreword, fresh speaking engagements in Washington, and disturbing new reports about Prince Andrew’s mental state following his eviction from Royal Lodge.

Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.

Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.

Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

👑 Follow our hit series Crown and Controversy! Season 1 and 2 are fully available now for everyone. Season 3 has new episodes every Sunday on the regular feed. GET THE FULL SEASON 3 BEFORE REGULAR LISTENERS as a subscriber! Hit that "UNINTERRUPTED LISTENING" Banner on the top of the Apple player. AND listen to Crown and Controversy "NORWAY'S ROYAL REBELS" here and get the full season as a premium subscriber now. 

👑 The Palace Intrigue Social Hub is Live! Join the conve