Norwegian Royal Family
Encyclopedia
The Royal Family of Norway is the family of King Harald V of Norway
. In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House and the Royal Family. The Royal House includes only the King
and his spouse, the Queen
, the King's eldest son with spouse, being the Crown Prince
and Crown Princess
, and the eldest child of the Crown Prince, being Princess Ingrid Alexandra
. The remaining Royal Family includes also all other children, grandchildren, siblings of the King, and their spouses, not being part of the more restricted Royal House.
Members of the Royal House hold the style of either Majesty (HM) or Royal Highness (HRH) and their birthday is an official flag flying day
. The princes and princesses of the Royal Family hold the style of Highness (HH).
's regional rulers, descended from Sweden
's Yngling royal family. He defeated the other rulers to unite the country and become its first King
. The Hereditary Kingdom of Norway
, established by at least three separate genealogical lines of monarchs each allegedly descending from Harald I the Fairhair, was the only realm of medieval Scandinavia
which was officially hereditary, not elective.
After the death of Haakon V of Norway
, the crown passed to his grandson Magnus IV of Sweden
. In 1397, Denmark
, Norway
, and Sweden
formed the Kalmar Union
under Queen Margaret I of Denmark
who was married to Haakon VI of Norway
and Sweden. She unofficially ruled all three countries until her death.
Sweden
seceded from the Kalmar Union
ultimately in 1523. In 1469, the Norwegian King pledged Orkney and Shetland to the crown of Scotland
as mortgage for a dowry
debt. In 1814, Denmark
ceded Norway
(but not its dependencies Iceland
, Greenland
and the Faroese
) to Sweden
; in 1905, Norway
became independent. Its new government offered the crown to Prince Carl, second son of Frederick VIII of Denmark
. After being approved in a popular vote, Carl was crowned Haakon VII of Norway
.
Norway
is a constitutional monarchy
.
The current King's ancestry is displayed at Ahnentafel of Harald V of Norway.
). In 1990, the succession law was changed so that the eldest child would succeed to the throne, regardless of gender (equal primogeniture). This change only affects those born in 1990 or later. For those born between 1971 and 1990, females were given succession rights, but their brothers would be before them in the line of succession (primogeniture
). Females born before 1971 would still be excluded from the succession.
In practice this means that Princess Märtha Louise, despite being older than the Crown Prince
, is placed after him and his children in the line. Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid are not in the line of succession: they were born before 1971, so Salic Law applies to them. However, Princess Ingrid Alexandra will be placed before her brother
, because she was born after 1990.
The current line of succession includes:
Harald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
. In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House and the Royal Family. The Royal House includes only the King
Harald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
and his spouse, the Queen
Queen Sonja of Norway
Queen Sonja of Norway is the wife of King Harald V of Norway.-Prior to marriage:Sonja was born in Oslo on 4 July 1937 as the daughter of clothing merchant Karl August Haraldsen and Dagny Ulrichsen .Queen Sonja grew up in the district of Vinderen in Oslo and completed her lower secondary schooling...
, the King's eldest son with spouse, being the Crown Prince
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway is the heir apparent to the throne of Norway. On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus but it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. He became Crown Prince Haakon when his father ascended to the crown as Harald V in 1991...
and Crown Princess
Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway
Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway , is the wife of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.-Background and education:...
, and the eldest child of the Crown Prince, being Princess Ingrid Alexandra
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and second in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.-Biography:...
. The remaining Royal Family includes also all other children, grandchildren, siblings of the King, and their spouses, not being part of the more restricted Royal House.
Members of the Royal House hold the style of either Majesty (HM) or Royal Highness (HRH) and their birthday is an official flag flying day
Flag flying days in Norway
This is a list of flag flying days in Norway.Dates when the Norwegian state flag is flown by all branches of government and state agencies are listed in Article 4 of the regulations concerning the use of the state flag and the merchant flag, as modified by Royal Resolution of 3 December 2004....
. The princes and princesses of the Royal Family hold the style of Highness (HH).
History of the monarchy
Harald I was the son of one of NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
's regional rulers, descended from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
's Yngling royal family. He defeated the other rulers to unite the country and become its first King
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...
. The Hereditary Kingdom of Norway
Hereditary Kingdom of Norway
The Kingdom of Norway as a unified realm was initiated by King Harald Fairhair in 9th century. His efforts in unifying the petty kingdoms of Norway, resulted in the first known Norwegian central government...
, established by at least three separate genealogical lines of monarchs each allegedly descending from Harald I the Fairhair, was the only realm of medieval Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
which was officially hereditary, not elective.
After the death of Haakon V of Norway
Haakon V of Norway
Haakon V Magnusson was king of Norway from 1299 until 1319.-Biography:Haakon was the younger surviving son of Magnus the Lawmender, King of Norway, and his wife Ingeborg of Denmark. Haakon was descended from king Saint Olav and is considered to have been the last Norwegian king in the Fairhair...
, the crown passed to his grandson Magnus IV of Sweden
Magnus IV of Sweden
Magnus Eriksson as Magnus IV was king of Sweden , including Finland, as Magnus VII King of Norway , including Iceland and Greenland, and also ruled Scania . He has also vindictively been called Magnus Smek...
. In 1397, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
formed the Kalmar Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
under Queen Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
who was married to Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway
Haakon VI of Norway was King of Norway from 1343 until his death and King of Sweden from 1362 until 1364, when he was deposed by Albert of Mecklenburg in Sweden.-Background:...
and Sweden. She unofficially ruled all three countries until her death.
Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
seceded from the Kalmar Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
ultimately in 1523. In 1469, the Norwegian King pledged Orkney and Shetland to the crown of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
as mortgage for a dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
debt. In 1814, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
ceded Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
(but not its dependencies Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
and the Faroese
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
) to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
; in 1905, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
became independent. Its new government offered the crown to Prince Carl, second son of Frederick VIII of Denmark
Frederick VIII of Denmark
Frederick VIII was King of Denmark from 1906 to 1912.-Early life:Frederick was born on 3 June 1843 in the Yellow Palace in Copenhagen as Prince Frederick of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, a junior male line of the House of Oldenburg descended from Christian III of Denmark and who had...
. After being approved in a popular vote, Carl was crowned Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
.
Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
is a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
.
The current King's ancestry is displayed at Ahnentafel of Harald V of Norway.
Royal House
- HM King Harald VHarald V of NorwayHarald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
, born on 21 February 1937 (age 74)
HM Queen SonjaQueen Sonja of NorwayQueen Sonja of Norway is the wife of King Harald V of Norway.-Prior to marriage:Sonja was born in Oslo on 4 July 1937 as the daughter of clothing merchant Karl August Haraldsen and Dagny Ulrichsen .Queen Sonja grew up in the district of Vinderen in Oslo and completed her lower secondary schooling...
, born on 4 July 1937 (age 74)- HRH Crown Prince HaakonHaakon, Crown Prince of NorwayHaakon, Crown Prince of Norway is the heir apparent to the throne of Norway. On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus but it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. He became Crown Prince Haakon when his father ascended to the crown as Harald V in 1991...
, born on 20 July 1973 (age 38) (The King's eldest and only son)
HRH Crown Princess Mette-MaritMette-Marit, Crown Princess of NorwayMette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway , is the wife of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.-Background and education:...
, born on 19 August 1973 (age 38)- HRH Princess Ingrid AlexandraPrincess Ingrid Alexandra of NorwayPrincess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and second in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.-Biography:...
, born on 21 January 2004 (age 8) (The Crown Prince's eldest child and daughter)
- HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra
- HRH Crown Prince Haakon
Royal Family
Besides the Royal House, the Royal Family also includes:- The son and step-son of the Crown Prince:
- HH Prince Sverre MagnusPrince Sverre Magnus of NorwayPrince Sverre Magnus of Norway is the second child of Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway. Prince Sverre Magnus is a grandchild of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway...
, born on 3 December 2005 (age 6) (The Crown Prince's son) - Marius Borg Høiby, born on 13 January 1997 (age 15) (The Crown Prince's step-son)
- HH Prince Sverre Magnus
- The King's daughter, her spouse and children:
- HH Princess Märtha LouisePrincess Märtha Louise of NorwayPrincess Märtha Louise of Norway is the only daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is fourth in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, after her brother and his two children.-Early life:...
1, born on 22 September 1971 (age 40)
Ari BehnAri BehnAri Mikael Behn is a Norwegian author, and is best known as the husband of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway. He has written two novels, a collection of short stories and a book about his wedding...
, born on 30 September 1972 (age 39)- Maud Angelica BehnMaud Angelica BehnMaud Angelica Behn is the first-born child of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn , and the eldest grandchild of King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja of Norway...
, born on 29 April 2003 (age 8) (Märtha Louise's elder daughter) - Leah Isadora BehnLeah Isadora BehnLeah Isadora Behn is the second daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn. She was born at the princess's summer residence Bloksbjerg at Hankø island, in the municipality of Fredrikstad....
, born on 8 April 2005 (age 6) (Märtha Louise's middle daughter) - Emma Tallulah BehnEmma Tallulah BehnEmma Tallulah Behn is the third daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn. She was born in their home in Lommedalen outside of the capital of Oslo at 12.53, weighing 3700 grams and measuring 53 cm...
, born on 29 September 2008 (age 3) (Martha Louise's youngest daughter)
- Maud Angelica Behn
- HH Princess Märtha Louise
- The King's sisters and their spouses:2
- HH Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. LorentzenPrincess Ragnhild of NorwayPrincess Ragnhild of Norway, Mrs. Lorentzen, is the eldest daughter of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. She is the older sister of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway and of Princess Astrid of Norway.Princess Ragnhild married Erling S...
, born on 9 June 1930 (age 81)
Erling S. Lorentzen, born on 28 January 1923 (age 89) - HH Princess Astrid, Mrs. FernerPrincess Astrid of NorwayPrincess Astrid of Norway, Mrs. Ferner, is the second daughter of King Olav V of Norway and his wife, Princess Märtha of Sweden...
, born on 12 February 1932 (age 79)
Johan Martin Ferner, born on 22 July 1927 (age 84)
- HH Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen
Line of succession
Until 1990, only males could inherit the Norwegian throne (Salic lawSalic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
). In 1990, the succession law was changed so that the eldest child would succeed to the throne, regardless of gender (equal primogeniture). This change only affects those born in 1990 or later. For those born between 1971 and 1990, females were given succession rights, but their brothers would be before them in the line of succession (primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
). Females born before 1971 would still be excluded from the succession.
In practice this means that Princess Märtha Louise, despite being older than the Crown Prince
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway is the heir apparent to the throne of Norway. On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus but it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. He became Crown Prince Haakon when his father ascended to the crown as Harald V in 1991...
, is placed after him and his children in the line. Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid are not in the line of succession: they were born before 1971, so Salic Law applies to them. However, Princess Ingrid Alexandra will be placed before her brother
Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway
Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway is the second child of Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway. Prince Sverre Magnus is a grandchild of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway...
, because she was born after 1990.
The current line of succession includes:
- HRH The Crown PrinceHaakon, Crown Prince of NorwayHaakon, Crown Prince of Norway is the heir apparent to the throne of Norway. On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus but it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. He became Crown Prince Haakon when his father ascended to the crown as Harald V in 1991...
- HRH Princess Ingrid AlexandraPrincess Ingrid Alexandra of NorwayPrincess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and second in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.-Biography:...
- HH Prince Sverre MagnusPrince Sverre Magnus of NorwayPrince Sverre Magnus of Norway is the second child of Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway. Prince Sverre Magnus is a grandchild of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway...
- HH Princess Märtha LouisePrincess Märtha Louise of NorwayPrincess Märtha Louise of Norway is the only daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is fourth in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, after her brother and his two children.-Early life:...
- Maud Angelica BehnMaud Angelica BehnMaud Angelica Behn is the first-born child of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn , and the eldest grandchild of King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja of Norway...
- Leah Isadora BehnLeah Isadora BehnLeah Isadora Behn is the second daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn. She was born at the princess's summer residence Bloksbjerg at Hankø island, in the municipality of Fredrikstad....
- Emma Tallulah BehnEmma Tallulah BehnEmma Tallulah Behn is the third daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn. She was born in their home in Lommedalen outside of the capital of Oslo at 12.53, weighing 3700 grams and measuring 53 cm...
External links
- The Royal Family and the Royal House of Norway - Official Site of the Norwegian Royal Family (in English)
- Aftenposten News: The Royals