Early Life
Born in Skaugum, Asker during the reign of his paternal grandfather, King Haakon VII, Harald was the third child and only son of Crown Prince Olav (later King Olav V) and Crown Princess Märtha of Norway. Harald 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 where Harald spent parts of his childhood in Sweden and subsequently the United States.
After World War II ended in 1945, Harald returned to Norway, and later studied for periods at the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Military Academy, and Balliol College, Oxford. An active sportsman, Harald represented Norway in sailing at the 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games. In 1970, Harald was named the founding president of the Norwegian Sailing Federation. He went on to serve as President of Honour for World Sailing starting in 1994, a position he held until his death, while remaining an active competitor in World Championships until 2022.
Following King Haakon's death in 1957, Harald became crown prince as his father became King Olav V. He married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968; their relationship was initially controversial due to her status as a commoner. They had two children, Märtha Louise and Haakon. In 1990, when his father's health declined, Harald became regent and took most of the powers of the monarchy while Olav remained the de jure monarch.
Reign
Following his father's death in 1991, Harald ascended to the throne. He was the first Norwegian-born monarch to inherit the throne since Olav IV in 1380, a span of 610 years. Harald's leadership during major Norwegian national crises earned him widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally. His presence during events such as the 1992 New Year's Day Storm, the 2011 Norway attacks, the 2020 Gjerdrum landslide, and the COVID-19 pandemic in Norway earned him the popular nickname "grandfather of the nation" (nasjonens bestefar).
During his reign, Harald suffered from several health issues, with his son acting as regent several times between 2003 and 2026. He became Norway's oldest reigning monarch in 2024, surpassing his father. Following the death of Elizabeth II, his paternal second cousin, in 2022, he became Europe's oldest reigning monarch. Harald died in 2026 in Oslo, aged 89, and was succeeded by his son Haakon VIII.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-09-05