King Harald V of Norway is 85 years old today. And while it’s a milestone moment for some, there is no special tradition of celebrating birthdays like 85 in Norway related so the day will not be marked very visibly in the country.
Norwegian Fortresses will fire a royal salute at 12 o`clock, with a total of 21 shots. The state-owned Norwegian TV channel NRK will also broadcast programmes about the King’s life throughout the day, as well as an extra show this evening. However, the birthday of the King is to be mainly celebrated privately.
Before the weekend, the Norwegian royal court published a statement in which they say that King Harald will celebrate the day privately. They also revealed that the Norwegian royal family has travelled abroad. This week it is winter holiday for the school`s in Norway, so there is reason to believe that King Harald has taken his children and grandchildren with him and gone on a week’s holiday.
It is not known what the destination is, but they have previously celebrated King Harald’s birthday in South Africa, France, Austria and Switzerland. Queen Sonja has a well-known love for the Alps. Queen Sonja will also be 85 years old this year, as she and her husband were both born in 1937. Queen Sonja’s birthday is 4 July.
The number 21 is special for the family. King Harald’s birthday is 21 February, while his granddaughter Princess Ingrid’s birthday is 21 January. King Oscar II, King Harald’s great-grandfather, also had his birthday on 21 January.
King Harald is the first King of Norway born on Norwegian soil in 567 years. He was born at the Skaugum estate on 21 February 1937 and is the son of King Olav of Norway and his wife Martha, who was Crown Princess of Norway and Princess of Sweden. From 1940 to 1945, he lived in exile in the United States. He became Crown Prince of Norway in 1957 when his grandfather, King Haakon VII, died. He became King of Norway when his father, King Olav V, died in 1991.
