King's stepson causes fierce backlash amid tearful royal gathering

The royal family's latest gathering to mourn the beloved royal was overshadowed by the King's stepson's presence.

King of Norway's rapist stepson carried the coffin of the late King Harald V after being released from house arrest, reigniting fierce criticism.

As Norway mourns the loss country's new Queen Mette-Marit was forced to apologise over ties to Epstein amid son's guilty rape verdict. 

Marius Borg Hoiby surprisingly joined members of the royal family to carry his step-grandfather's coffin from the Royal Palace to the palace chapel on Monday.

The 29-year-old royal was one of eight lifting the coffin along with the new King Haakon and his children Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus as well as Princess Martha Louise and her three daughters Maud, Leah and Emma Behn.

The new Queen also joined the procession in what was her first official appearance since her husband became king.

Hoiby is currently serving his four-year prison sentence under house arrest at his parents' Skaugum Estate while he appeals his conviction for two counts of rape.

King Haakon VIII was sworn in on Tuesday, though his wife Queen Mette-Marit was absent from the ceremony due to complications following her lung transplant in June.