Following the death of King Harald V, the Royal News Organisation looks at his childhood in the United States and time at the White House.
Prince Harald of Norway was born on 21 February 1937 at the Skaugum Estate, near Asker, to then-Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha (née Princess of Sweden). Harald was born during the reign of his grandfather, King Haakon VII, and was the first Prince to be born on Norwegian soil in more than 576 years. Prince Harald was the youngest of three children, with two sisters: Princess Ragnhild (1930-2012) and Princess Astrid (b. 1932).
Following a few peaceful years of upbringing, Harald’s childhood would soon be marked by the Second World War. In 1940, when Harald was only three years old, the Nazis invaded Norway, forcing the royal family and the government to flee. As Harald’s mother was the daughter of Prince Carl of Sweden, Crown Princess Märtha took the children and herself initially to Högfjällshotellet, across the border into neutral Sweden. Harald’s father and grandfather, Crown Prince Olav and King Haakon, would themselves stay in Norway before travelling to govern from London.
The Norwegian royals were not allowed to stay long in Sweden, as Swedes were growing anxious about their own German invasion for housing the royals — threatening Swedish neutrality. The royal party set off for Drottningholm Palace, then to Ulriksdal Palace.
The previous year, the Crown Prince Couple had stayed in Washington during their American tour. Olav and Märtha grew close to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The President had offered shelter to the Norwegian royals should war ever arrive. Upon learning of their distress, President Roosevelt sent the SS American Legion to bring the royals to safety in the United States.
Crown Princess Märtha with Prince Harald and the Princesses later arrived at the White House in September 1940. The royals lived at the residence temporarily before finding a permanent home. The First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, was known to have said they would care for the royals “as if they were members of our own family.” The family settled at Pooks Hill, a 150-acre estate near Bethesda, Maryland, about ten miles from the White House. FDR, who became known as “your old uncle” to both the Norwegian and Dutch royal families, ensured the royals were looked after, and visited them as often as possible.
The Crown Prince family gathered outside Pook’s Hill in Maryland, USA. Probably from 1942 (CC BY 4.0 (Riksarkivet)
Harald grew close to the First Family. There are famous photos of the young Prince playing with the First Dog – Fala — a Scottish terrier who belonged to the Roosevelts. The two families were so close that the President invited the Norwegian royals to stand behind him during his fourth inauguration on the South Portico of the White House.
After leaving the United States, Harald continued to return to the land that had offered him refuge in a dark time. However, America was always a part of him; when he spoke English, he was one of only two European monarchs, alongside Albert II, Prince of Monaco, to have an American accent. Harald became Crown Prince in 1957 and succeeded his father in 1991 as King of Norway.
King Harald made many visits to the United States during his reign, both official working visits and grand state visits. While many went off without any fuss, a 1995 visit saw a major faux pas, leaving King Harald and Queen Sonja standing alone on the White House’s doorstep.
The King and Queen were undertaking an extensive three-week visit to the United States, where the royal couple toured throughout the country from the West Coast to the East Coast. It was in Washington, D.C., that Their Majesties were due to be received by President Clinton at the White House. Usually, visitors (especially royalty) are met by the President and the First Lady on the front steps of the iconic South Portico. As King Harald and Queen Sonia’s motorcade pulled in, security was around, and staff were coming to open the door; there was no one there. The King and Queen of Norway were left waiting, somewhat puzzled by the experience, looking around at what to do next.
After some time elapsed, a White House staffer came out to greet the King and Queen, and most likely apologised for the incident. Soon after, with cameras still rolling, First Lady Hillary Clinton appeared and greeted Their Majesties. She explained that the President was in an “important” meeting and was held up. Not long after the First Lady greeted the royal couple, President Bill Clinton walked into the room where King Harald said, “Welcome to the White House!” The four laughed off the small incident inside King Harald’s former home.
King Harald often spoke of America, and his admiration for a “beautiful and complex country is still growing.” His former home also held him in high regard for his service to his people and his determination in promoting Norway abroad. The President paid tribute to King Harald after his death yesterday, saying in part, “A strong, proud, and greatly respected man.”
The Royal Court of Norway is expected to announce plans surrounding King Harald’s state funeral in due course. There is an expectation for many of the world’s royal families to gather in Oslo. In particular, the Scandinavian countries and their royal families remain very close.
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