Meet Norway's Royal Family: All About the 1,000-Year-Old Monarchy

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: HEIKO JUNGE/AFP/Getty

Norway’s monarchy stems back over 1,000 years.

The Norwegian royal family also has close ties to the British monarchy. The latePrince Philip, who was born into the Greek and Danish royal families, belonged to the House of Glücksburg. King Harald and the lateQueen Elizabethwere also second cousins and shared the same great-grandparents.

Getty Images / Thais Reyes for PEOPLE

Here’s everything to know about the Norwegian royal family.

King Harald V and Queen Sonja

Born Feb. 21, 1937, King Harald V is Norway’s current reigning monarch and the only son of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha, formerly of Sweden. Harald ascended the throne in 1991 upon his father’s death and, according to theRoyal House of Norway, was the first king to be born in Norway in 567 years.

Queen Sonja and King Harald.ERIK EDLAND/NTB SCANPIX/AFP via Getty

The youngest of three children, King Harald has two older sisters: Princess Ragnhild, who died in 2012, and Princess Astrid. At the time of Harald’s birth, Norwegian law stated that only male heirs could inherit the throne — though in 1990, the law was amended to permit the eldest child, regardless of gender, to become monarch.

Harald’s visit to the U.S. in 1960 was his first official state visit overseas. As King, he assumes an active role in the Norwegian government, having control over who will assume the role of prime minister. King Harald also holds the highest ranking in Norway’s Army, Air Force and Navy.

The couple have two children: Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Märtha Louise. In 2016, both King Harald and Queen Sonja appeared in a seven-part documentary about their lives as royals, during which Sonjaspoke about having a miscarriage46 years prior.

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Rune Hellestad/Getty

Crown Prince Haakon, the son of King Harald and Queen Sonja, is the next in line for the Norwegian throne. Born on July 20, 1973, Prince Haakon served in the Navy and received degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and the London School of Economics.

Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit have since welcomed two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

“For a number of years, I have had health challenges on a regular basis, and now we know more about what these are in,” she explained in a statement. “The condition means that the working capacity will vary.”

She added that she and her husband chose to inform the general public about her condition as there would be periods when she would need to engage in treatments instead of royal appearances.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra

Princess Ingrid Alexandrais the elder of Haakon and Mette-Marit’s two children and the second in line for the Norwegian throne.

According tothe royal family’s website, Princess Ingrid Alexandra is “very interested in environmental protection and climate change,” and her first official royal engagement was held on World Environment Day in 2009.

She was confirmedat the royal chapel in August 2019, celebrating her country and heritage in a traditional Norwegian dress.

On Jan. 21, 2023, Princess Ingrid Alexandra celebrated her 19th birthday.

Prince Sverre Magnus

Per Ole Hagen/Getty

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s youngest child isPrince Sverre Magnus.

Third in line for the throne, Sverre Magnus has attended fewer royal engagements but is often seen at family events such as his sister’s18th birthday ballin 2022. He is currently enrolled at Elvebakken Upper Secondary School, and he enjoys skiing and biking.

In May 2017, the then-11-year-old prince playfully broke royal protocol (and went viral) when he dabbed on the Royal Palace’s balcony during his grandparents' — King Harald V and Queen Sonja — 80th birthday celebration.

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty

Marius was only 2 when his mother married Crown Prince Haakon. Photos of the royal went viral in 2015 after the then-18-year-old attended a soccer game with his family.

Officials also removed his pages from the royal website, “on the basis of his wish to live outside the public eye.”

In August 2024, Norwegian outletSe og Hørreported that Marius had been arrested in Oslo after reportedly being involved in an incident with a woman. He allegedly “attacked her psychologically and physically,”

The outlet reported that police confirmed “a person was arrested and charged with assault and later released from custody” and that Marius was held for 30 hours before he was released from custody.

Days later, Crown Prince Haakonaddressed the situationwhile speaking to reporters at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“It is a serious matter when the police are involved in the way they are, but at the same time, it is not right for me to go into the details of the case,” he said, per theDaily Express.

Princess Märtha Louise

Patrick van Katwijk/WireImage

Princess Märtha Louiseis the elder sister of Crown Prince Haakon. Born on Sept. 22, 1971, Märtha Louise was named after her paternal grandmother and second-great-grandmother. She graduated from the University of Oslo and subsequently became a certified physiotherapist. She has been outspoken about her interest in alternative medicine.

In November 2022, the princess officially announced that she wasrelinquishing her royal dutiesto focus on her personal life and other interests. Märtha Louise has not used the “Her Royal Highness” title since 2002. In a video posted to her royalInstagramaccount, she voiced that she was “concerned with health and research” and mentioned her training in physiotherapy. According tothe royal family’s website, she now “conducts various commercial activities under her sole proprietorship.”

In June 2022, Märtha Louise got engaged to her American boyfriend, alternative therapist and self-professed shamanDurek Verrett. In May 2019, she described Verrett as her “twin flame.” Verrett has been criticized for promoting conspiracy theories and unproven medical treatments.

Maud Angelica Behn

Maud Angelica Behn Instagram

Maud Angelica Behn is Princess Märtha Louise and Behn’s oldest child. Born on April 29, 2003, Maud Angelica is currently fifth in the line of succession.

At 16 years old, Maud Angelica gave a poignant speech at her father’s funeral in 2019. She also placed a painting of Behn on top of his coffin, which she had intended to give him as a Christmas gift.

In 2022, she competed on Norway’s version ofThe Masked Singer,Maskorama.

Leah Isadora Behn

Leah Isadora Behn Instagram

Leah Isadora Behn is Princess Märtha Louise and Behn’s second child, born on April 8, 2005. She is sixth in line for the throne.

In honor of her daughter’s 15th birthday in 2020 — the first since Behn’s death — Märtha Louise posted anInstagramtribute.

“Happy 15th Birthday, my wonderful Leah. You are an amazing young woman with so many talents; you are funny, kind, beautiful and graceful with a smart head on your shoulders. You are definitely the most organized person in the family- for which I am eternally grateful - and you have the gift of art from your dad that expresses itself through beautiful makeup IG posts,” the princess wrote.

She added: “And although this day is bittersweet in more ways than one, you make the best of it and stay true to your emotions. You keep inspiring me every day, darling. I am so proud of you. Love you with all my heart.”

As an influencer, model and makeup artist, Leah Isadora has more than 105,000 followers on her beautyInstagram account. She has worked with Dior,D2magazine and Ole Henriksen.

Emma Tallulah Behn

Princess Martha Louise Instagram

Born on Sept. 29, 2008,Emma Tallulah Behnis the youngest of Princess Märtha Louise and Behn’s daughters and seventh in the line of succession.

The teenager has alove for horsesand often participates in competitions. In October 2021, Emma Tallulah won two classes at the Kingsland Oslo Horse Show.

Princess Astrid

Ragnar Singsaas/Getty

Born on Feb. 12, 1932, Princess Astrid is King Harald’s older sister. The 91-year-old royal’s name is a tribute to her maternal aunt, Astrid of Sweden, later Queen of the Belgians.

Astrid married sailor and Olympic medalist Johan Martin Ferner on Jan. 12, 1961. They had five children: Cathrine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth and Carl-Christian; through their kids, Astrid and Ferner had seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ferner died on Jan. 24, 2015, at 87 years old.

Astrid continues to perform royal duties and attends several royal engagements yearly. According tothe royal website, she devotes particular attention to work with children and adolescents with dyslexia.

source: people.com