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A look at the Norwegian line of succession

This summer, Royal Central is taking a look at who is who in the lines of succession around the world. Today we are looking at the line of succession to the Norwegian throne. Compared to many monarchies, the Norwegian order of succession is relatively short and counts only seven people, all of whom are descendants of the present monarch, His Majesty King Harald V.

The succession is currently governed by Article 6 of the Norwegian Constitution. Article 6 has been changed a few times since first being introduced in 1814. The most recent change came in 1990 and introduced absolute primogeniture among the grandchildren, and further eligible descendants of King Harald V. The King’s children are still ranked according to male-preference cognatic primogeniture.

Article 6 of the Norwegian Constitution says: “Inheritance of the throne is lineal. Only children of the queen or king, or of someone who has the right of inheritance, can inherit, and the child must be born in lawful marriage. The unborn also has the right to inheritance, and the child takes his place in succession as soon as it comes into the world”.

His Majesty King Harald V of Norway. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen / Royal Central.

The current monarch is King Harald V. Then Crown Prince Harald became crown prince regent as a result of King Olav’s illness on 31 May 1990. When the King died on 17 January 1991, he took the throne as King Harald V. The new King continued his father and grandfather’s royal motto “Everything for Norway”. King Harald, along with Queen Sonja, was blessed by the church in Nidaros Cathedral on Sunday 23 June 1991.

The line of succession to the Norwegian throne is as follows:

HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.

1. His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon Magnus

Crown Prince Haakon was born on 20 July 1973. Crown Prince married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in Oslo Cathedral on 25 August 2001. Together they have the two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. In addition to advanced military education, Crown Prince Haakon holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley and a Master’s Degree in development studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Crown Prince Haakon carries out a wide variety of official engagements in Norway every year, focusing mainly on entrepreneurship and innovation in Norwegian business.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen

2. Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra

Princess Ingrid Alexandra was born on 21 January 2004. The Princess went to a public kindergarten and school as a child. She will enrol in a public high school this year. Maths, arts and crafts are Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s favourite subjects. The Princess has many hobbies, which include skiing and kickboxing. Like the rest of the Crown Prince Family, she also enjoys surfing. In recent years, she has had more and more duties for the Royal Family. She has, among other things, baptised several ships and has a separate part of the castle park named after her with statues intended for children and young people.

Prince Sverre of Norway. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen

3. Prince Sverre Magnus

Prince Sverre Magnus was born 3 December 2005 in Oslo. He was baptised on 4 March 2006 in the Palace Chapel and was carried by his grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Sonja. In the autumn of 2007, Prince Sverre Magnus started in kindergarten in Asker, and in the fall of 2011, he began 1st grade at Jansløkka School, where Princess Ingrid Alexandra also went. On 18 August 2014, the Prince enrolled at the Montessori School in Oslo. The Royal Court explained on their website that the Prince likes to play the drums. The Prince is well known in both his family and in the media for his sense of humour and amiable personality.

The Countess of Wessex together with Princess Märtha Louise of Norway, at the celebrations of King Harald and Queen Sonja in 2017. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.

4. Princess Märtha Louise

Princess Märtha Louise was born on 22 September 1971. She is the eldest child of His Majesty King Harald and Her Majesty Queen Sonja. According to the present law of succession, the Princess would have been Queen if she was born today. Princess Märtha Louise and her brother spent their childhood at Skaugum Estate, near Oslo. She has studied literature at the University of Oxford and pursued a physiotherapy education in Norway. The Princess established a sole proprietorship in 2002, and from 2007 to 2019 the Princess ran Astarte Education, Soulspring, In 2018 she established the YouTube channel Hest360. Princess Märtha Louise undertakes official engagements as a representative of the Royal Family in areas concerning persons with disabilities.

Maud Angelica Behn. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.

5. Maud Angelica Behn

Maud Angelica Behn was born on 29 April 2003 in Oslo and is the eldest child of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn. She was baptised exactly 100 years after her great-grandfather, King Olav V, was born. Maud lived her first year of life in Lommedalen in Bærum, before the family moved to New York in the fall of 2004. The family moved back to Norway before her little sister, Leah Isadora was born in 2005. In the fall of 2009, she enrolled in a school in Bærum. She does not have and will not have official duties for the Norwegian royal family. However, she has been and will be visible in major royal celebrations in the years to come.

From the left: Maud Angelica Behn, Emma Tallulah Behn, Leah Isadora Behn, Princess Martha and Queen Sonja. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.

6. Leah Isadora Behn

Leah Isadora Behn was born 8 April 2005 at Hankø in Norway as the daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn. She is number six in the succession to the Norwegian throne, after her older sister Maud Angelica and before her younger sister, Emma Tallulah. She was baptised on 16 June 2005 in the Palace Chapel. She was carried to the baptism by her grandmother Queen Sonja. Among her godparents is Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands. She does not have and will not have official duties for the Norwegian royal family. However, she has been and will be visible in major royal celebrations in the years to come.

The Norwegian royal family and everyone with the right of inheritance to the throne during the celebration of King Harald and Queen Sonja in 2017. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.

7. Emma Tallulah Behn

Emma Tallulah Behn was born 29 September 2008 as the third daughter of Princess Märtha Louise and her former husband, Ari Behn. Her birth took place in the couple’s home in Lommedalen outside Oslo. Emma was baptised in the Palace Chapel on 20 January 2009. Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Alexia of Greece are among her godparents. She does not have and will not have official duties for the Norwegian royal family. However, she has been and will be visible in major royal celebrations in the years to come.

You can read the rest of our summer series on lines of succession here.

About author

Senior Europe Correspondent Oskar Aanmoen has a master in military and political history of the Nordic countries. He has written six books on historical subjects and more than 1.500 articles for Royal Central. He has also interview both Serbian and Norwegian royals. Aanmoen is based in Oslo, Norway.