The Royal Family of Norway is the family of King
Harald V of Norway. In Norway there is a distinction between the Royal House and the Royal Family. The Royal House includes only the
King and his spouse, the
Queen, the King's eldest son with spouse, being the
Crown Prince and
Crown Princess, and the eldest child of the Crown Prince, being
Princess Ingrid Alexandra. The remaining Royal Family includes also all other children, grandchildren, siblings of the King, and their spouses, not being part of the more restricted Royal House.
Members of the Royal House hold the style of either
Majesty (HM) or
Royal Highness (HRH) and their birthday is an official
flag flying day. The princes and princesses of the Royal Family hold the style of
Highness (HH).
History of the monarchy
Harald I was the son of one of
Norway's regional rulers, descended from
Sweden's Yngling royal family. He defeated the other rulers to unite the country and become its first
King. The
Hereditary Kingdom of Norway, established by at least three separate genealogical lines of monarchs each allegedly descending from
Harald I the
Fairhair, was the only realm of
medieval Scandinavia which was officially
hereditary, not
elective.
After the death of
Haakon V of Norway, the crown passed to his grandson
Magnus IV of Sweden. In 1397,
Denmark,
Norway, and
Sweden formed the
Kalmar Union under Queen
Margaret I of Denmark who was married to
Haakon VI of Norway and Sweden. She unofficially ruled all three countries until her...
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