Harald V

Harald V - King of Norway since January 17, 1991

Birthdate: February 21, 1937

Harald V - King of Norway since January 17, 1991. He ascended the throne after the death of his father Olav V. Coming from the House of Glucksburg, he is the first King of Norway named 'Harald' since the early 12th century, since Harald IV.

Birthplace. Education. Harald was born on February 21, 1937, at the Skaugum estate in Asker to Crown Prince Olav (later King Olav V) and Swedish Märtha, and was the first prince born in Norway since 1370. He is the third child of the family (older sisters - Princesses Ragnhild and Astrid). He is a nephew of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1940, the royal family left Norway after the German invasion and lived in Washington (Harald's grandfather, Haakon VII, and father, Crown Prince Olav, were in exile in London during the war). In 1945, the prince returned to Norway and began his studies in Oslo (from 1955) and at the Military Academy. From 1960, he studied in Oxford.

Ascension to the throne. Since King Olav V fell ill in the spring of 1990 and during his recovery, Crown Prince Harald led the State Council and took on some other duties of King Olav. King Harald ascended the throne after the death of his father King Olav V on January 17, 1991. He is the head of the Norwegian Protestant Church. He is the Commander-in-Chief of the Norwegian Armed Forces with the title of General and Admiral.

In 2015, he was the first reigning monarch in the world to visit Antarctica, specifically Queen Maud Land.

Hobbies. He is interested in sailing and participated several times (like his father) in world championships (gold medal in team - 1987), European championships, and Olympic Games (1964, 1968, and 1972). In 1964, he carried the flag of Norway at international competitions in Tokyo. Unlike his father Olav V, who became Olympic champion in Amsterdam in 1928, Harald did not achieve significant success at the Olympics, but won at world and European championships. In 2005, already as king (two months after heart surgery), he won with his team at the European Championships in Sweden at the age of 68.

Health. In 2003-2004 and 2005, the king suffered severely from cancer and cardiovascular diseases (coronary bypass procedure), both times he was represented by Crown Prince Haakon as regent.

Family. He married the commoner Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, with whom he has two children: Princess Märtha Louise and the heir to the throne - Crown Prince Haakon.

February 18, 2022