Harald V

Harald V
Harald V in 2021
King of Norway
Reign	17 January 1991 – present
Benediction	23 June 1991[a]
Predecessor	Olav V
Heir apparent	Haakon
Prime ministers	See list Gro Harlem Brundtland Thorbjørn Jagland Kjell Magne Bondevik Jens Stoltenberg Erna Solberg Jonas Gahr Støre
Born	(1937-02-21) 21 February 1937 (age 87) Skaugum, Akershus, Norway
Spouse	Sonja Haraldsen ​ (m. 1968)​
Issue Detail	Princess Märtha Louise Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
House	Glücksburg[1]
Father	Olav V of Norway
Mother	Märtha of Sweden
Religion	Church of Norway
Signature

Norwegian royal family
The King * The Queen * The Crown Prince * The Crown Princess * Princess Ingrid Alexandra * Prince Sverre Magnus Mr Marius Borg Høiby Princess Märtha Louise Miss Maud Angelica Behn Miss Leah Isadora Behn Miss Emma Tallulah Behn Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner
* Member of the Norwegian Royal House
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Harald V (Norwegian: Harald den femte, Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈhɑ̂rːɑɫ dɛn ˈfɛ̂mtə];^[2] born 21 February 1937) is King of Norway. He succeeded to the throne on 17 January 1991.

Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. He was second in the line of succession at the time of his birth, behind his father. In 1940, as a result of the German occupation during World War II, the royal family went into exile. Harald spent part of his childhood in Sweden and the United States. He returned to Norway in 1945, and subsequently studied for periods at the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Military Academy, and Balliol College, Oxford.

Following the death of his grandfather Haakon VII in 1957, Harald became crown prince as his father became king. A keen sportsman, he represented Norway in sailing at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games, and later became patron of World Sailing. Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, their relationship having initially been controversial due to her status as a commoner. They have two children, Märtha Louise and Haakon. Harald became king following his father's death in 1991, with Haakon becoming his heir apparent.

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