King Harald’s 76th Birthday

Today, King Harald celebrates his 76th birthday. He was born on February 21st, 1937, at his parents’ home Skaugum (near Oslo), where the Crown Princely Family lives today.

He is the youngest of three children and only son of then Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha. His eldest sister, Princess Ragnhild, passed away last year on September 16th. Due to male precedence, he became King of Norway after his father King Olav V had died in 1991. The Norwegian Constitution was changed non-retroactively in 1990, allowing now the eldest child, regardless of the gender, to ascend the Throne.

King Harald is married to Queen Sonja since 1968. They have two children, Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Märtha Louise, and six grandchildren.

After last year’s grand public festivities of the King and Queen’s 75th birthdays, celebrations this year will be held in private. According to court reporter Kjell Arne Totland, he and the Queen are on skiing holidays in the Alps together with the rest of the Royal Family.

Filed under Norway
Tagged Biography, Birthday, Harald V of Norway.

2 Responses to King Harald’s 76th Birthday