Harald V of Norway

Harald V, styled His Majesty The King (born February 21, 1937), acceded to the throne as Norwegian Monarch on January 17, 1991. The son of the then Crown Prince Olav and of Princess Märtha of Sweden, Harald was born at the Crown Prince Residence at Skaugum, Asker, near Oslo.

Adult life

Harald married a commoner, Sonja Haraldsen, in 1968, a marriage which sparked much public controversy. The couple have two children, Princess Märtha Louise and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon, heir to the Norwegian throne.

Related Topics:
Commoner - Sonja Haraldsen - 1968 - Princess Märtha Louise - Crown Prince Haakon

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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 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. With his sailing crew he won World Championship bronze, silver and gold medals, in 1988, 1982, and 1987, respectively. In July 2005, the King and his crew aboard the royal sailboat Fram XV won the gold medal at the European Championships in Sweden.

Related Topics:
Yachting - Olympic Games - 1964 Olympic Games - 1988 - 1982 - 1987 - 2005

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King Harald is the head of the Church of Norway.

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The King is the Colonel-in-Chief of The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own Yorkshire Regiment). He is a Four-star General, an Admiral and the Supreme Commander of the Norwegian Armed Forces. His Majesty the King's Guard are considered the King's lifeguards, they guard the Royal residences including the Royal Palace and the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Castle.

Related Topics:
Colonel-in-Chief - The Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales' Own Yorkshire Regiment) - Four-star General - Norwegian Armed Forces - His Majesty the King's Guard - Akershus Castle

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Twice during recent years King Harald has been in absence as ruler owing to hospitalization and reconvalescence: in December 2003 to mid-April 2004 due to urinary bladder cancer, and in April to early June of 2005 due to aortic stenosis (for details see "The King's health", below). Crown Prince Haakon served as regent on both occations.

Related Topics:
2004 - 2005

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