Home > Harald V of Norway
His Majesty King Harald V (born February 21, 1937) became King of Norway in 1991. The son of the then Crown Prince Olav and of Princess Märtha of Sweden, Harald was born at Skaugum in Asker, near Oslo. He is the first King of Norway to have been born in the country since King Olav IV was born there in 1370, and he is also a descendant of Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon. As he is a descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, he is also in the line of succession to the British throne.Harald lived in Washington, DC during World War II, but returned to Norway to complete his education at the Norwegian Military AcademyThe Norwegian Military Academy ( Norwegian: Krigsskolen was etablished in 1750. It is the oldest university-level educational institution in Norway, and one of the oldest active military academies in the world. Military academies. and then at Balliol College, OxfordBalliol College founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Traditionally, the undergraduates are amongst the most politically active in the university, and the college's alumni include several fo. Harald married a commonerA commoner in British law, is someone who is neither the Sovereign nor a noble. Therefore, any member of the Royal Family who is not a peer, such as HRH Prince William of Wales or HRH The Princess Royal, is a commoner, as is any member of a peer's family,, Sonja Haraldsen, in 1968Events Undated Booker Prize for Fiction is established by Booker plc. 1968 is known as the year of the Prague Spring and also the year of the Paris riots. The ASCII character code is standardized as ANSI Standard X3. Nauru adopt his national anthem of the, a marriage which sparked much public controversy. The couple have two children, Princess Märtha LouisePrincess Martha Louise of Norway (born September 22, 1971) is the only daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is third in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, after her brother Crown Prince Haakon and his daughter Princess Ingrid Alexan and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne.
Harald became King of Norway upon the death of his father on January 17January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 348 days remaining (349 in leap years) Events 1562 Huguenots were recognized under the Edict of St. 1773 Captain James Cook becomes the first explorer to cross the Antarctic Circl, 1991.
An avid sailor, Harald represented Norway in the yachting events in the Olympic Games several times during his Crown Prince years, and carried the Norwegian flag at the opening parade of the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 1964. With his sailing crew he has won world championship bronze, silver and gold medals, in 1988, 1982, and 1987, respectively.
On December 1, 2003, King Harald was announced to be suffering from cancer of the bladder. A successful operation took place on December 8 at Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo: His bladder was removed and a new one constructed. The King was then on sick leave from all official duties. Crown Prince Haakon was regent during King Harald's illness and convalescence. The King resumed his duties on April 13, 2004.
The King was once known to be a chain-smoker, but quit that habit resolutely when being diagnosed with cancer.
