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 |
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| House | Glücksburg | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Father | Olav V of Norway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Märtha of Sweden | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Church of Norway | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  |
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Harald V was born on February 21, 1937. He has been the King of Norway since 1991. He is a member of the House of Glücksburg, a royal family.
Harald was the third child and 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, after his father. In 1940, during World War II, Germany occupied Norway. The royal family had to leave their home. Harald spent some of his childhood in Sweden and the United States. He returned to Norway in 1945. Later, he studied at the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Military Academy, and Balliol College, Oxford.
After his grandfather, King Haakon VII, passed away in 1957, Harald became the Crown Prince. His father became king at that time. Harald became king himself when his father died in 1991. 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 the heir to the throne.
King Harald is also a great sportsman. He represented Norway in sailing at the Summer Olympics in 1964, 1968, and 1972. He later became a supporter of World Sailing, which is a group that organizes sailing sports.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Birth and Childhood
Harald was born at the Skaugum estate. This was during the time his grandfather, King Haakon VII, was king. Harald was baptized in the Royal Chapel in Oslo on March 31, 1937. His godparents included his grandparents and other royal family members. His 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 in line.
World War II and Exile
In 1940, the royal family had to leave Oslo because Germany invaded Norway. It was decided that the family should split up for safety. The King and Crown Prince Olav stayed in Norway for a while. Crown Princess Märtha went to Sweden with her three children. They faced some difficulties at the Swedish border but were eventually allowed in.
Harald spent some time in Sweden before his mother decided it was safer to go to the United States. On August 17, his mother and the children left Finland for the United States.
Harald, his mother, and his sisters lived in Washington, D.C. during the war. His father and grandfather stayed in London with the Norwegian government that was in exile. Harald remembers standing behind Franklin D. Roosevelt when he became president for his fourth term in 1945. This experience gave Harald a slight American accent when he speaks English. He also visited Norwegian soldiers training in the United States and Canada. Harald returned to Norway with his family when the war ended in 1945.
Return to Norway
In the fall of 1945, Harald started third grade at Smestad school. He was the first member of the royal family to attend a public school.
His Confirmation ceremony took place on May 10, 1953, at the Chapel of Akershus Castle.
In 1954, when Harald was 17, his mother passed away from cancer. This was a very sad time for him and his family. He later named his daughter, Märtha Louise, in her memory.
Becoming Crown Prince
In 1955, Harald finished school at Oslo katedralskole. That same year, he began studying at the University of Oslo. He then went to military schools, graduating from the Norwegian Military Academy in 1959.
On September 21, 1957, his grandfather died. Harald became Crown Prince at the age of 20. He attended his first Council of State meeting a few days later. He took an oath to the Constitution of Norway on February 21, 1958. That same year, he also acted as regent for the first time 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 very good rower during his time at Oxford. In 1960, he also made his first official trip abroad, visiting 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.
Marriage to Sonja Haraldsen
Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in Oslo on August 29, 1968. They had been dating for nine years. At first, his father, King Olav, was not sure about the marriage. This was because Sonja was a "commoner," meaning she was not from a royal family. King Olav only agreed when Harald said he would not marry anyone else if he couldn't marry Sonja. This would have meant the end of the royal family line in Norway.
The couple had two children: Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon. Haakon is the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne.
Reign as King
When his father passed away on January 17, 1991, Harald became the King of Norway. He was the first Norwegian-born monarch since Olav IV, who died in 1387. This was a gap of 604 years! Harald is the sixth King of Norway to have the name Harald.
King Harald decided to use the same royal motto as his grandfather and father: "Alt for Norge" (All for Norway). He also continued the tradition of a royal benediction. He and Queen Sonja were consecrated together in the Nidaros Cathedral on June 23, 1991.
King Harald's time as king has brought many modern changes to the Norwegian Royal family. He has worked closely with Queen Sonja and the Crown Prince. They have made the royal household more open to the public and the media. King Harald also accepted two more commoners into the royal family: Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Ari Behn. This showed how the monarchy was adapting to modern times.
Under their leadership, many royal buildings have been renovated. These include the Bygdøy Royal Estate, the Royal Palace, the royal stables, and Oscarshall. The Royal Palace, stables, and Oscarshall have also been opened for the public to visit.
King's Role in Government
The King of Norway has an important role in the country's government. However, he is not responsible for political decisions. This means he doesn't make political choices himself. His actions need to be approved by a member of the Council of State, usually the Prime Minister.
The King meets with the Council of State at the Royal Palace every Friday. He also has weekly meetings with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He welcomes foreign visitors and officially opens parliament each October. He travels a lot throughout Norway and makes official visits to other countries.
Until 2012, the King was the formal head of the Church of Norway. Now, he is no longer the formal head, but he must still be of the Evangelical Lutheran religion. In 2018, the King's constitutional status as "holy" was removed. However, his sovereign immunity (protection from legal action) remained.
Sporting Achievements
In 1994, King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon were part of the opening ceremony for the Lillehammer Olympics. The King officially opened the games. The Crown Prince lit the Olympic cauldron. This honored both the King and his grandfather as Olympians.
King Harald has won many medals in sailing. He won World Championship bronze in 1988, silver in 1982, and gold in 1987. In July 2005, he and his crew won a gold medal at the European Championships in Sweden. In the 2007 World Championship, he finished in sixth place.
Recent Years and Health
King Harald has been praised for his leadership during national crises in Norway. These include the 2011 massacre, the 2020 Gjerdrum landslide, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2015, he became the first reigning monarch to visit Antarctica. He went to Queen Maud Land, which is a Norwegian territory. In 2016, King Harald competed in the sailing World Championships in Toronto, Canada. He came in second place in his category.
In 2016, King Harald gave a speech celebrating 25 years on the throne. He spoke about uniting all Norwegians, including people from different backgrounds and those who love others regardless of gender.
Since 2003, King Harald has had some health issues. He has had bladder cancer, heart problems, and respiratory infections. During these times, Crown Prince Haakon has stepped in as regent to perform the King's duties.
When the King and Queen turned 80 in 2017, the King opened the former royal stables to the public. This was a gift to the Queen. It is now called The Queen Sonja Art Stable. It is the first royal family building that is always open to the public.
On January 17, 2021, King Harald celebrated 30 years as King of Norway. He has continued to attend important events, such as royal jubilees in Denmark and Sweden. He has also had several hospital stays for infections. In February 2024, while on holiday in Malaysia, he had a temporary pacemaker implanted. He received a permanent pacemaker in March 2024. He resumed his duties in April 2024, with a reduced schedule.
As of July 2025, King Harald is Europe's oldest hereditary reigning monarch. He is also the oldest monarch in over 1,150 years of Norwegian monarchy.
Royal Symbols
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Royal standard
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Royal monogram
Honours and Medals
The King is a four-star general and an admiral. He is formally the Supreme Commander of the Norwegian Armed Forces. The infantry battalion His Majesty the King's Guard protects the King and the Royal Family. They guard the Royal residences, including the Royal Palace.
Norwegian Honours
The King is the Grand Master of Norway's highest orders. These include the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit. He also holds many other Norwegian medals and badges of honour.
International Honours
King Harald has received many honours from other countries. He is an honorary general in the British Army. He is also an honorary Colonel in the British Royal Marines. He is a Knight of the Order of the Garter, a very important British order. He has also received awards from countries like Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, and Spain.
Issue
| Name | Birth | Marriage | ||
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| Date | Spouse | Issue | ||
| 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
In Spanish: Harald V de Noruega para niños
- Descendants of Christian IX of Denmark – This lists other European royals who are related to Harald V.
