Harald V facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Harald V |
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Harald V in 2021
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| King of Norway | |
| Reign | 17 January 1991 – present |
| Benediction | 23 June 1991 |
| Predecessor | Olav V |
| Heir apparent | Crown Prince Haakon |
| Born | 21 February 1937 Skaugum, Akershus, Norway |
| Spouse | |
| Issue Detail |
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| House | Glücksburg |
| Father | Olav V of Norway |
| Mother | Märtha of Sweden |
| Religion | Church of Norway |
| Signature |  |
Harald V (born 21 February 1937) is the current King of Norway. He is a member of the House of Glücksburg, a royal family.
Harald was the only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. When he was born, he was second in line to the throne. In 1940, during World War II, the royal family had to leave Norway. Harald spent some of his childhood in Sweden and the United States. He came back to Norway in 1945. Later, he studied at the University of Oslo and the Norwegian Military Academy. He also studied at Balliol College, Oxford in England.
In 1957, Harald became Crown Prince when his grandfather, King Haakon VII, passed away and his father became king. Harald became king himself in 1991 after his father's death. He married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968. Their marriage was special because she was not from a royal family. They have two children: Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon. Haakon is now the heir to the throne.
King Harald loves sports. He represented Norway in sailing at the Summer Olympics three times: in 1964, 1968, and 1972. He is also a patron of World Sailing, which is a big organization for sailing sports.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Birth and Childhood
Harald was born at the Skaugum estate in Norway in 1937. His grandfather, King Haakon VII, was the king at that time. Harald was baptized in the Royal Chapel in Oslo. Many important people were his godparents, including kings and queens from other countries. Harald's parents already had two daughters, Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid.
When Harald was born, he was second in line to the succession to the Norwegian throne. His father, Crown Prince Olav, was first.
Life During World War II
In 1940, Germany invaded Norway. The royal family had to leave Oslo for safety. They decided to split up. The King and Crown Prince Olav stayed in Norway for a while. Crown Princess Märtha went to Sweden with her three children, including Harald.
Later, the Crown Princess and her children traveled to the United States. Harald, his mother, and his sisters lived in Washington, D.C. and Scottsdale, Arizona. His father and grandfather stayed in London with the Norwegian government. Harald remembers standing behind Franklin D. Roosevelt when he became president for the fourth time in 1945. He also visited Norwegian soldiers training in Canada. Harald returned to Norway with his family when the war ended in 1945.
Return to Norway
In the autumn of 1945, Harald started third grade at Smestad school. He was the first royal family member to attend a public school.
In 1953, when he was 16, he had his Confirmation at Akershus Castle. A year later, in 1954, his mother passed away from cancer. This was a very sad time for him and his family. He later named his daughter, Märtha, to remember his mother.
Becoming Crown Prince
In 1955, Harald finished high school. That same year, he began studying at the University of Oslo. He then joined the military, graduating from the Norwegian Military Academy in 1959.
On 21 September 1957, his grandfather died. Harald became Crown Prince at age 20. He started attending the Council of State meetings. He also took an oath to the Constitution of Norway. In 1958, he acted as regent for the first time, meaning he took over the King's duties when the King was away.
In 1960, Harald went to Balliol College, Oxford in England. He studied history, economics, and politics there. He was a good rower during his time at Oxford. In 1960, he also made his first official trip abroad to the United States.
Harald loved sailing. He represented Norway in yachting at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo (1964), Mexico City (1968), and Munich (1972). He even carried the Norwegian flag at the opening ceremony of the 1964 Olympics.
His Marriage
Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in Oslo on 29 August 1968. They had been dating for nine years. At first, his father, King Olav, was not sure about the marriage because Sonja was a commoner (not from a royal family). But Harald told his father that if he couldn't marry Sonja, he wouldn't marry anyone. This would have meant the end of the Norwegian monarchy. So, King Olav agreed.
The couple had two children: Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon. Haakon is the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne.
King of Norway
On 17 January 1991, Harald's father passed away. Harald then became the new King of Norway. He was the first Norwegian-born monarch since 1387, which was 604 years ago! He is the sixth King of Norway to be named Harald.
King Harald decided to use his grandfather's royal motto: "Alt for Norge" (meaning "All for Norway"). He and Queen Sonja were officially blessed in the Nidaros Cathedral on 23 June 1991.
King Harald's time as king has brought many changes to the Norwegian Royal family. He has worked with Queen Sonja and the Crown Prince to make the royal household more open to the public and the media. He also accepted two more commoners into the royal family: Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Ari Behn. This shows how the royal family is becoming more modern.
Many royal buildings have also been renovated and opened to the public, like the Royal Palace and The Queen Sonja Art Stable.
King's Constitutional Role
In Norway, the King has executive power according to the Constitution. However, he is not responsible for political decisions. This means he doesn't make political choices. His actions need to be approved by a member of the government, usually the Prime Minister.
The King meets with the government every Friday at the Royal Palace. He also has weekly meetings with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He welcomes foreign visitors and officially opens parliament every October. He travels a lot around Norway and visits other countries.
Until 2012, the King was the formal head of the Church of Norway. Now, he is still required to be of the Evangelical Lutheran religion, but he is no longer the formal head.
King's Sporting Role
King Harald is a big sports fan, especially sailing. In 1994, he and Crown Prince Haakon were part of the opening ceremony for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. The King officially opened the games.
King Harald has won many medals in sailing. He won bronze, silver, and gold medals at World Championships in 1988, 1982, and 1987. In 2005, he and his crew won a gold medal at the European Championships in Sweden. He is also an honorary president of the International Soling Association.
Recent Years and Health
King Harald has been praised for his leadership during national crises in Norway. These include natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2015, he became the first king to visit Antarctica. In 2016, he competed in the sailing World Championships in Canada. He was called the "Sailor-King" because he slept on his yacht.
In 2016, during a speech for his 25 years on the throne, King Harald spoke about unity. He said that Norwegians from different backgrounds, and people who love others regardless of gender, all belong together.
Since 2000, King Harald has had some health issues. He has had to take sick leave a few times for surgeries and infections. During these times, Crown Prince Haakon has stepped in as regent to perform the King's duties. In 2024, he had a temporary pacemaker implanted while on holiday in Malaysia. He later received a permanent pacemaker.
In 2017, when the King and Queen turned 80, the King opened the former royal stables to the public. This was a gift to his wife, Queen Sonja. It is now called The Queen Sonja Art Stable and is open to visitors.
On 17 January 2021, King Harald celebrated 30 years as King of Norway. He is currently Europe's oldest reigning monarch.
Royal Symbols
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Royal standard
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Royal monogram
Family (Issue)
| Name | Birth | Marriage | ||
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| Date | Spouse | Children | ||
| Princess Märtha Louise | 22 September 1971 | 24 May 2002 31 August 2024 |
Ari Behn (divorced 2017) Durek Verrett |
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| Crown Prince Haakon Magnus | 20 July 1973 | 25 August 2001 | Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby |
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See also
- Descendants of Christian IX of Denmark – Learn about other European royals related to King Harald V.
