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Harald V of Norway

King of Norway from 1991 to 2026 (1937-2026) · Norway · Historical Figures · Died at 89

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He's the first king born on Norwegian soil in six centuries - and he got there by way of wartime exile, three Olympic sailing campaigns, and a marriage that scandalized the establishment.

PoliticiansHistorical FigureRoyaltyPoliticsNorwayEurope20th Century

A life in dates

2026In memoriamDied28 August 20262018Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San MartínAward2016“So what is Norway? Norway is high mountains and deep s. It is wide open spaces and rocky coastlines. It is islands and archipelagos. It is lush farmland and rolling moors.”In their words1 September 2016Garden party in the Palace Park: welcoming speech (September 1, 2016)

“come from North Norway, , - and all of the other regions. Norwegians have immigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Poland, from Sweden, Somalia and Syria.”In their words1 September 2016Garden party in the Palace Park: welcoming speech (September 1, 2016)

“Norwegians believe in God, Allah, the Universe and nothing.”In their words1 September 2016Garden party in the Palace Park: welcoming speech (September 1, 2016)

“Norway is you. Norway is us.”In their words1 September 2016Garden party in the Palace Park: welcoming speech (September 1, 2016)

“My greatest hope for Norway is that we will be able to take care of one another.”In their words1 September 2016Garden party in the Palace Park: welcoming speech (September 1, 2016)

2011Idrettsgallaens hedersprisAward2010Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double CrossAward2008Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the SwordAward2005“We have been given an assignment as a monarchy, and we do as well as we can … We try to be as little populistic as possible.”In their words21 November 2005Interview in Wenche Fuglehaug (November 21, 2005). "Norway's monarchy turns 100", Aftenposten, Aftenposten Multimedia A/S, Oslo, Norway.

2004Grand Collar of the Order of Prince HenryAward2001Knight of the GarterAward1997Grand Cordon of the Order of LeopoldAward1995Collar of the Order of the Golden FleeceAward1994Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of GermanyAward1991Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the DannebrogAwardMonarch of NorwayOffice1991-20261964Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of AustriaAward1961Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of FinlandAward1958Order of the ElephantAward1955Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian OrderAward1937PrinceOffice1937-1957Born21 February 1937

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Harald with his mother Crown Princess Märtha in 1937Harald with his mother Crown Princess Märtha in 1937Prince Harald in 1943Prince Harald in 1943Prince Harald as a student in the Cavalry Officers' Candidate School, Trandum, 1956/1957Prince Harald as a student in the Cavalry Officers' Candidate School, Trandum, 1956/1957Crown Prince Harald with Australian Prime Minister John Gorton in 1970Crown Prince Harald with Australian Prime Minister John Gorton in 1970King Harald, Laura Bush, George W. Bush, and Queen Sonja, 2005King Harald, Laura Bush, George W. Bush, and Queen Sonja, 2005

In their own words 7

,
Harald V of Norway
,
7 statements, newest first

  1. So what is Norway? Norway is high mountains and deep s. It is wide open spaces and rocky coastlines. It is islands and archipelagos. It is lush farmland and rolling moors.

    Sep 1, 2016, Garden party in the Palace Park: welcoming speech (September 1, 2016), Own words

  2. come from North Norway, , - and all of the other regions. Norwegians have immigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Poland, from Sweden, Somalia and Syria.

    Sep 1, 2016, Garden party in the Palace Park: welcoming speech (September 1, 2016), Own words

  3. It is not always easy to say where we are from, what nationality we are. Home is where our heart is - and that cannot always be confined within national borders.

    Sep 1, 2016, "Home is where our heart is" is an ancient saying, reported at least as early as 1847, in Joseph C. Neal, "Singleton Snippe. Who Married, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín2018
Order of the White Star, Collar Class2014
Idrettsgallaens hederspris2011
Decoration for Exceptional Merits2011
Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross, Ivan Gašparovič2010
Grand Collar of the Military Order of Saint James of the Sword2008
Holmenkollen Medal2007
Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry2004
Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (civil)2002
Knight of the Garter2001
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic2001
Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold1997
Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece1995
Gold Olympic Order1994
Royal Victorian Chain1994
Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany1994
Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog1991
Grand Cross of the Military Order of Avis1980
Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria1964
Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland1961
Order of the Elephant1958
Royal Order of the Seraphim1958
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav1955
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order1955
Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Order of the White Eagle
Order of the Three Stars, 1st Class
Order of the Star of Romania
Oslo Military Society's badge of honor
Royal Norwegian Army National Service Medal with three stars
Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch
Royal House Centennial Medal
King Haakon VII's 100th anniversary medal
King Haakon VII 1905-1955 Jubilee Medal
Defence Service Medal with three stars
King Olav V's Jubilee Medal 1957-1982
King Olav V's Centenary Medal
King Haakon VII Commemorative Medal
Kong Olav V's Memorial medal
Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum

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Harald V of Norway

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About this person

Born 21 February 1937, Harald was three when the Germans invaded and the royal family fled into exile, splitting his childhood between Sweden and the United States before returning in 1945. He studied at Oslo, the Norwegian Military Academy, and Balliol College, Oxford, then competed for Norway in sailing at three consecutive Olympics between 1964 and 1972. In 1968 he married Sonja Haraldsen over initial objections to her commoner status; they had two children, Märtha Louise and Haakon, the heir apparent. He became crown prince in 1957 when his grandfather Haakon VII died, served as regent during his father's final illness in 1990, and ascended 17 January 1991. His own health has faltered in recent years, with Crown Prince Haakon serving as regent five times since 2003, but Harald remains Europe's oldest reigning monarch and since 2024 Norway's longest-serving king.

Country
Norway
Category
Historical Figures
Type
Historical Figure
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1937 to 2026 · aged 89

In common with Harald

Trond KirkvaagAlso in Historisk film om Dyreparken | Den levende Parken (2006)Lars MjøenAlso in Historisk film om Dyreparken | Den levende Parken (2006)Knut LystadAlso in Historisk film om Dyreparken | Den levende Parken (2006)Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of NorwayBoth received King Olav V's Centenary Medal

Historical Figures from Norway 2

Haakon VII of Norway74.9Harald Hardrada61.1

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