While many know who’s who of the British Royal Family, they are not as familiar with the other royal houses of Europe. The Norwegian Royal Family is the closest foreign royal family in the British line of succession, and Royal News is breaking down who’s who of the royals from Norway.
King Harald
Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs / The Royal Court
King Harald is the son of the late King Olav and Crown Princess Martha. He was born on 21 February 1937 and has been on the throne since the death of his father on 17 January 1991. The King spent years in exile in the United States while the Germans occupied Norway during World War II. To this day, he speaks English with an American accent. He’s been married to Queen Sonja since 1968, and they have two children: Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Martha Louise. The King has been plagued by health issues in recent years forcing him to take sick leave on many occasions. However, he has stressed he has no plans to abdicate.
Queen Sonja
Photo: Jørgen Gomnæs / The Royal Court.
Sonja Haraldsen was born to a commoner family on 4 July 1937 in Oslo. She met Crown Prince Harald in 1959 and dated for nine years. Harald was determined to marry his love, telling his father that if he did not approve of the marriage, he would never marry and have children – thus ending the family’s reign over Norway. The King relented, and Harald and Sonja married on 29 August 1968. They have two children: Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Martha Louise.
Crown Prince Haakon
Photo: Liv Anette Luane, The Royal Court
Crown Prince Haakon was born during the reign of his grandfather, King Olav, on 20 July 1973. He became Crown Prince at the age of 17 and served in the Royal Navy. He married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in 2001, which was controversial at the time because Mette-Marit had a son from a previous relationship. Haakon helped raise her son and the entire Royal Family welcomed him among their ranks. Haakon and Mette-Marit have two children together, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Haakon has had to step up in recent years to act as Regent on several occasions due to his father’s health problems.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit
Photo: Liv Anette Luane / The Royal Court
Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby was born on 19 August 1973 into a commoner family. She has a sister and two older brothers. Her stepbrother was killed in the 2011 terror attacks in Norway. She has admitted that she had a wild past and had a son in 1997, Marius. This caused controversy when her engagement to Crown Prince Haakon was announced, but ahead of the wedding, she condemned drugs and requested the press not question her past any longer. The Norwegian Royal Family welcomed her son, Marius, as one of their own. Haakon and Mette-Marit have two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. In October 2018, she was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis and has had to limit her royal duties to take care of her health.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra
Photo: Ida Bjørvik, The Royal Court
Princess Ingrid Alexandra is the first child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Born on 21 January 2004, she is known as Ingrid to her family. The Princess graduated high school in 2023 and has worked as a school assistant. She will one day be Norway’s second Queen regnant and is second in line to the throne behind her father. Ingrid Alexandra is currently undergoing military training.
Prince Sverre Magnus
Photo: Dusan Reljin, The Royal Court
Prince Sverre Magnus was born on 3 December 2005 to Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. He currently attends Elvebakken Upper Secondary School studying Information Technology and Media Production. Sverre Magnus is third in the line of succession.
Marius Borg Høiby
Marius Borg Høiby was born on 13 January 1997 to Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby and Morten Borg. Upon his mother’s marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, he became a member of the Royal Family but does not hold any titles and is not in the line of succession. Ahead of beginning his university studies in the United States, he stepped away from public life. He no longer appears at official royal events except for birthday events like his sister’s 18th birthday celebrations in 2022.
Princess Martha Louise
Princess Martha Louise was born on 22 September 1971 to the now King Harald and Queen Sonja. Although she is older than her brother, the laws of succession did not change to allow for absolute primogeniture until 1990. She is a certified physiotherapist and owns her own business. In agreement with the King, her style of Royal Highness was removed to allow her to work with her business, and she now pays income tax. Martha Louise married Ari Behn in 2002. They had three daughters together, Maud, Leah and Emma. They divorced in 2017. Ari died by suicide on Christmas Day 2019. The Princess stepped back from all royal duties in 2022. She is set to marry American Shaman Durek Verrett in August 2024. Martha Louise is fourth in the line of succession.
Maud Angelica Behn
Maud is the first child of Princess Martha Louise and the late Ari Behn. Born on 29 April 2003, she is an author and artist. Maud and her sisters do not hold royal titles and are private citizens, even though they are extended members of the Royal Family. They are not expected to carry out royal duties, but they are present at larger family events. Maud is fifth in the line of succession.
Leah Isadora Behn
Born on 8 April 2005, Leah is the second child of Princess Martha Louise and Ari Behn. Leah models and has an active YouTube and TikTok page where she shares makeup advice and tidbits about her life. She is sixth in the line of succession.
Emma Tallulah Behn
Emma, like her sisters, does not hold any titles. She is the youngest daughter of Princess Martha Louise and Ari Behn, born on 29 September 2008. She is a known equestrian and won bronze at the Norwegian National Horse Jumping Championships in 2021. She is seventh and last in the line of succession.
Princess Astrid
Photo: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen, The Royal Court
Princess Astrid is the older sister of King Harald. The 92-year-old was born on 12 February 1932 in Oslo. She was married to Johan Ferner until he died in 2015. They had five children together: Cathrine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth, and Carl-Christian. The Princess is not in the line of succession as women could not inherit the throne at the time of her birth. Princess Astrid still undertakes limited royal duties on behalf of the King.
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