Norwegian royal family

The Norwegian Royal Family is the family of King Harald V of Norway. It officially includes all male-line descendants of any King of Norway and their wives. Members of the Royal Family (other than the King and Queen) hold the style of His or Her Royal Highness (HRH).

History of the Monarchy

Harald I was the son of one of Norway's regional rulers, descended from Sweden's Yngling royal family. He defeated the other rulers to unite the country and become its first king.

After the death of Haakon V of Norway, the crown passed to his grandson Magnus II of Sweden. In 1397, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden formed the Kalmar Union under Margaret I of Denmark who was married to Haakon VI of Norway. She unofficially ruled all three countries until her death.

Sweden left the Kalmar Union in 1523. In 1814, Denmark ceded Norway to Sweden; in 1905, Norway became independent. Its new government offered the crown to Prince Carl, second son of Frederick VIII of Denmark. After being approved in a popular vote, Carl was crowned Haakon VII of Norway.

Norway is a constitutional monarchy.

List of Members

HM The King married to HM The Queen

Their Children:

TRH The Crown Prince married to Crown Princess
- HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra (The Crown Prince's daughter)
Princess Märtha Louise¹ (The King's daughter) married to Ari Behn
- Maud Angelica Behn (Märtha Louise's elder daughter)
- Leah Isadora Behn (Märtha Louise's younger daughter)

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess announced in April they were expecting their second child in December 2005.

The King's sisters - Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid - are styled Princess, but are not considered full members of the Royal Family and do not have the style of Her Royal Highness because each married a commoner. They are entitled to the style of Her Highness while abroad, however.

Line of succession

Main article: Line of succession to the Norwegian Throne

Until 1971, only males could inherit the Norwegian throne (Salic law). Afterwards, females were given succession rights, but their brothers would be before them in the line of succession (primogeniture). In 1990, the succession law was changed so that the eldest child would succeed to the throne, regardless of gender (equal primogeniture).

Each change of the laws only affected those born after the succession was changed. So, Princess Märtha Louise, despite being older than the Crown Prince, is placed after him and his daughter in the line. Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid are not in the line of succession: they were born before 1971, so Salic Law applies to them. However, Princess Ingrid Alexandra will be placed before any brothers born after her, because she was born after 1990.

The current line of succession includes:

Notes

¹In 2002, the King (with Princess Märtha Louise's consent) removed Princess Märtha Louise's style of Her Royal Highness. This was meant to loosen connections with the Royal Family and her business life. However, she retains her place in the line of succession and still carries out royal duties on behalf of the King (though they are reduced).