Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway

Haakon
Crown Prince of Norway
Haakon in 2025
Born (1973-07-20) 20 July 1973
The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2001)​
Issue
Names
Haakon Magnus
HouseGlücksburg[1]
FatherHarald V
MotherSonja Haraldsen
ReligionChurch of Norway
Alma mater
Military career
BranchNorwegian Army
Norwegian Navy
Norwegian Air Force
Service years1992–present
RankGeneral (Army)
General (Air Force)
Admiral (Navy)

Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway (Norwegian pronunciation: [ˈhôːkʊn]; Haakon Magnus; born 20 July 1973), is the heir apparent to the Norwegian throne. He is the only son and second child of King Harald V and Queen Sonja.

Haakon represents the fourth generation of the reigning Norwegian royal family of the House of Glücksburg. He married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in 2001, and they have two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.

Haakon is a trained naval officer and, as crown prince, holds senior military rank in the Norwegian Armed Forces. He has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme and has been involved in a range of philanthropic and international initiatives, including membership of the Young Global Leaders network and its Foundation Board. He holds a BA in political science from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MSc in development studies from the London School of Economics.

Early life and family

Haakon was born on 20 July 1973 at the National Hospital in St Hanshaugen, Oslo, the only son and younger child of Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja. His father was the son of the reigning monarch, King Olav V. At birth he was named Haakon Magnus, and the announcement emphasised that he would be known as Haakon. He was baptised on 20 September in the chapel at the Royal Palace.[3] He was named in honour of his paternal great-grandfather, King Haakon VII, his maternal uncle Haakon Haraldsen, and Magnus, after the Norwegian saint and martyr. Haakon's grandfather Olav died on 17 January 1991,[4] after which his father acceded as King Harald V and Haakon became crown prince.[5]

Haakon has one sibling, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (born 1971). In 1990, the Norwegian constitution was amended to introduce absolute primogeniture, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of sex, would take precedence in the line of succession.[6] The change was not applied retroactively, so Haakon continues to take precedence over his older sister.[7]

In the Netflix documentary Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story, his brother-in-law Durek Verrett alleged that Haakon and his parents did not "know what racism was".[8]

Education and military

Haakon served in the Royal Norwegian Navy. He graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy in 1995,[9] followed by a year aboard missile torpedo boats and other navy vessels.[10]

He later attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1999.[11] Haakon subsequently attended lectures at the University of Oslo and completed the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' civil servant introductory course in 2001. He finished his education in 2003 at the London School of Economics, where he was awarded an MSc in development studies, specialising in international trade and Africa.[10]

As of 15 November 2013, his rank in the Royal Norwegian Navy is Admiral, and in the Norwegian Army and the Royal Norwegian Air Force his rank is General.[12]

In 2016, he completed the Norwegian Army's paratrooper course and was certified as a military paratrooper. The course was administered by the Special Operations Commando.[13]

Relationships, marriage and children

Early relationships

Haakon's first publicly known relationship was with cosmetics heiress Celina Midelfart, with whom he was involved from 1994 to 1996.[14]

Marriage

Haakon married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, a commoner and single mother, on 25 August 2001 at Oslo Cathedral.[15][16] Frederik, then Crown Prince of Denmark and now King, served as best man.[17]

When their engagement was announced in December 2000,[18] public and media reaction was largely negative.[19] Many Norwegians expressed concern about the Haakon's choice of partner, primarily due to Mette‑Marit's status as a single mother.[20][21] The father of her child had been convicted of drug‑related offences,[22] and critics also highlighted her limited formal education, previous relationships with convicted felons, and her social circle, which some commentators described as one "where drugs were readily available".[23][24] The couple's eight-month engagement included a period of cohabitation in an Oslo apartment, a decision that drew criticism from the conservative Church of Norway.[22]

Haakon and Mette‑Marit have two children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (born 21 January 2004 at Oslo University National Hospital in Oslo) and Prince Sverre Magnus (born 3 December 2005 at the same hospital).[25] Haakon is also the stepfather of Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby.[25] Their official residence is the Skaugum Estate, situated near Semsvannet.[26]

Mette-Marit had contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein over several years,[27] while Haakon met Epstein only once, according to the Royal Palace's communications manager, Guri Varpe.[28][29]

Activities

Haakon with then-Brazilian vice president Michel Temer at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasília, Brazil, 16 November 2015.

From 25 November 2003 to 12 April 2004, Haakon served as regent during the King's treatment for cancer and subsequent convalescence. He again acted as regent from 29 March 2005 until the King had fully recovered from heart surgery undertaken on 1 April, a period that ended on 7 June. Haakon served as regent for a third time in 2024 during the King's hospitalisation for an infection and pacemaker implantation.[30][31]

In addition to his official duties, Haakon has a strong interest in cultural matters and has given patronage to a number of organisations. In 2006, he was one of three founders of Global Dignity, alongside Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant.[32][33]

In 2003, Haakon was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).[32] In 2013, he established the SIKT conference.[32] He regularly attends the annual conference of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), and in 2016 he met the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) for an introduction to Norway's tripartite cooperation model.[34]

Haakon was a member of the Young Global Leaders network from 2005 until 2010, and from 2010 to 2017 he served on the Young Global Leaders Foundation Board.[32]

Haakon and Mette‑Marit established the Crown Prince and Crown Princess's Foundation.[32] He is a patron of 4H Norge, ANSA, the Ibsen Stage Festival, the Nordland Music Festival, and several other organisations.[35] In 2017, he became a patron of the Norwegian Refugee Council.[36]

In May 2022, Haakon joined a University of Tromsø expedition aimed at disseminating knowledge about polar history and the scientific research taking place in the Arctic. Over the course of two weeks, he crossed the Greenland ice sheet using a snowkite.[37][38]

Following the 2022 Oslo shooting, Haakon stated, "We must protect the right in Norway to love whomever we want".[39]

Personal interests

Haakon has long been involved in sport and has shown a particular interest in windsurfing and surfing, although he has not competed at a professional level. He is also known as an enthusiastic music fan. In his youth, he attended music festivals across Europe, including the Roskilde Festival in Denmark and the Quart Festival in Kristiansand.

He has taken part in several Olympic ceremonies. At the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, the King declared the Games open while Haakon lit the cauldron, echoing the family's Olympic heritage. In 2016, his daughter Ingrid Alexandra performed the same role at the II Winter Youth Olympics, also held in Lillehammer. Haakon attended the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

He accompanied the band Katzenjammer in their recording of the song "Vi tenner våre lykter" ("We light our lanterns") for their 2011 Christmas-themed album of the same name. Proceeds benefited "Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess funds".[40]

Titles, styles, honours and awards

Titles

  • 20 July 1973 – 17 January 1991: His Royal Highness Prince Haakon of Norway
  • Since 17 January 1991: His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Norway

Arms

Honours and medals

National honours and medals

  • Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav °
  • Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit °
  • Defence Service Medal with Laurel Branch °
  • Royal House Centennial Medal °
  • Olav V's Commemorative Medal °
  • Olav V's Jubilee Medal °
  • Olav V's Centenary Medal °
  • King Harald V's Jubilee Medal 1991-2016[41]
  • Royal Norwegian Navy Service Medal °
  • Norwegian Reserve Officers' Association Badge of Honour °
  • Naval Society Medal of Merit in gold °
  • Oslo Military Society Badge of Honour in Gold °

Foreign honours

Awards

  • 14 August Committee's Bridge Building Prize 2011[58]
  • Olympic Games : Lighter of the Olympic Cauldron; 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, opened by his father, King Harald V.
  • A horse race bears his name, Kronprins Haakons Pokalløp. It is held every year in June, at Drammen Travbane.

See also

  • List of current heirs apparent

References

  1. ^ "The Royal Family". Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  2. ^ Ilse, Jess (19 September 2020). "The godparents of Europe's heirs". Royal Central. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
  3. ^ His godparents were the King of Norway (his paternal grandfather); Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner (his paternal aunt); Prince Carl Bernadotte (his paternal granduncle); the King of Sweden (his paternal third cousin); the Queen of Denmark (his paternal second cousin once removed); and Princess Anne of the United Kingdom (his paternal third cousin).[2]
  4. ^ Flint, Peter B. (18 January 1991). "Olav V, Norway's King 33 Years And Resistance Hero, Dies at 87". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Crown Prince Haakon, Britannica. "Harald became king of Norway upon the death of his father on January 17, 1991. Although the succession law had been changed in 1990 to state that the eldest child, whether male or female, would be first in line to succeed to the throne, it applied only to those born after the amendment's passage, and thus Haakon became crown prince."
  6. ^ "A look at the Norwegian line of succession". Royal Central. 19 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Absolute primogeniture - How Sweden revolutionized the royal world". The Royal Pages. 13 December 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  8. ^ Multiple sources:
  9. ^ "HRH Crown Prince Haakon". Sustainable Ocean Alliance. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Haakon, thirty years as heir". Royal Central. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Crown Prince Breaks Tradition at Berkeley / Norway's royal son has enrolled at Cal". SFGate. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Hans Kongelige Høyhet Kronprinsen utnevnes til admiral og general". 15 November 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Completed Army paratrooper course". Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  14. ^ "De han vraket". Aftenbladet. Retrieved 30 January 2026. Hun var kronprinsens første offisielle kjæreste fra 1994 til 1996 [She was the Crown Prince's first official girlfriend from 1994 to 1996]
  15. ^ "Norwegian prince ties the knot". BBC.com. 25 August 2001.
  16. ^ Baciero, César Andrés (25 August 2025). "Princess Mette-Marit of Norway and the Wedding Gift She Rarely Wears". Vanity Fair.
  17. ^ "Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit's royal wedding". HELLO!. 15 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  18. ^ Contino, Kristin (4 November 2024). "The Former Waitress Who Will Become Queen of Norway". Marie Claire.
  19. ^ "The scandalous past of Princess Mette-Marit". honey.nine.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 November 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
  20. ^ Abrams, Margaret (21 February 2018). "Meet Mette-Marit, the Crown Princess of Norway with a wild past that includes drug use and a controversial ex". Business Insider. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  21. ^ Osborn, Andrew (23 August 2001). "Norway's royal union causes an uncommon row". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  22. ^ a b "Tears of joy from Crown Prince Haakon as he makes Mette-Marit his future queen". Hellomagazine.com. 25 August 2001. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  23. ^ Gibbs, Walter (26 August 2001). "Uncommon Royal Couple Exchange Vows in Norway". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  24. ^ "Norway future queen admits wild past". BBC News. BBC.co.uk. 22 August 2001. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Prince Haakon. Biography, news, photos and videos". Hello Magazine. 8 October 2009. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  26. ^ "The Royal House of Norway – Skaugum Estate". Archived from the original on 13 December 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
  27. ^ Andersen, Elise Rønnevig; Tobiassen, Markus; Alsaker-Nøstdahl, Endre; Brekken, Benjamin; Opsahl, Per; Gorset, Johannes (30 January 2026). "Nye Epstein-filer: Omfattende kontakt med kronprinsesse Mette-Marit" [New Epstein files: Extensive contact with crown princess Mette-Marit]. VG (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 7 February 2026. Retrieved 30 January 2026.
  28. ^ Myklebostad, Marie; Gaathaug, Jonathan (20 November 2025). "Dette vet vi om Mette-Marits møter med Epstein" [This is what we know about Mette-Marit's meetings with Epstein]. TV2 (in Norwegian Bokmål). Archived from the original on 10 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  29. ^ Nymoen, Ole Christian; Ellingsen, Kasper (31 January 2026). "Epstein-filene: Omfattende kontakt med Mette-Marit" [Epstein files: Extensive contact with Mette-Marit]. Nettavisen (in Norwegian Bokmål). Norsk Telegrambyrå. Archived from the original on 2 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  30. ^ Crown Prince Haakon of Norway steps up as regent while King Harald prepares for surgery.
  31. ^ "Norway king returns home after Malaysia hospital admission". 3 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  32. ^ a b c d e "His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon". Norwegian Royal House Official Website. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  33. ^ "Our Story". Global Dignity. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  34. ^ "In focus: Trade, industry and innovation". Norwegian Royal House Official Website. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  35. ^ "Organisations under the patronage of The Crown Prince". Norwegian Royal House Official Website. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  36. ^ "Crown Prince becomes patron of the Norwegian Refugee Council". www.nrc.no. 1 March 2017. Archived from the original on 27 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Crown Prince crosses the Greenland ice sheet". royalcourt.no. The Royal House of Norway. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  38. ^ Rød, Mathias Moene (7 June 2022). "Kitekongen over Grønland". NRK. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  39. ^ Solsvik, Terje; Fouche, Gwladys (25 June 2022). "Horror on Oslo Pride day as gunman goes on deadly rampage at gay bar". Reuters. Archived from the original on 25 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  40. ^ Katzenjammer – Vi tenner våre lykter Archived 15 April 2016 at the Wayback Machine, accessed 26 October 2012.
  41. ^ "Tildeling av Kong Harald Vs jubileumsmedalje 1991–2016". Kongehuset (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  42. ^ [1] Archived 12 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine – website typischich.at
  43. ^ "Reply to a parliamentary question about the Decoration of Honour" (PDF) (in German). p. 1811. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 October 2012.
  44. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Decorations of HRH The Crown Prince". The Royal House of Norway. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  45. ^ "Modtagere af danske dekorationer". Kongehuset (in Danish). 12 December 2017. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  46. ^ Official website of the President of Estonia (Estonian)
    • Estonia: Member 1st Class of the ((Order of the White Star))
    Estonian State Decorations – Kroonprints Haakon Archived 4 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  47. ^ "Vabariigi President". www.president.ee. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  48. ^ "Statsbesøk fra Island". Archived from the original on 26 March 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  49. ^ "Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana". www.quirinale.it. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  50. ^ "Norwegian Crown Prince website". Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  51. ^ "Par Norvēģijas Karalistes pavalstnieku apbalvošanu…". Latvijas Vēstnesis (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  52. ^ "Par Atzinības krusta piešķiršanu". Latvijas Vēstnesis (in Latvian). Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  53. ^ Lithuanian Presidency Archived 19 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Lithuanian Orders searching form
  54. ^ Photo Archived 26 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine of a State visit of Lithuania to Norway, March 2011
  55. ^ "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 15 września 2003 r. o nadaniu orderów". prawo.sejm.gov.pl. Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  56. ^ Alvará n.º 2/2004 Archived 6 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Diário da República n.º 77/2004, Série II de 3 March 2004. p.5092.
  57. ^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  58. ^ Crown Prince wins Pakistani prize Archived 2 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine – website Views and News from Norway
Wikimedia Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.