King Harald of Norway celebrates his 85th Birthday with his immediate family during his winter holiday on Monday, 21 February 2022.

The only son of Crown Prince Olav (later King Olav V) and Crown Princess Märtha was born at Skaugum near Oslo and he was second in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.

He had two older sisters: Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid.

When Germany invaded Norway in 1940, the Royal Family were forced to flee. Crown Princess Märtha took the children across the border to Sweden, then to the United States, whilst King Haakon VII and Crown Prince Olav set up a government in exile in London.

Thousands of cheering Norwegians lined the streets to welcome their Royal Family home in 1945 when the country was finally liberated after five years of Nazi occupation.

He became Crown Prince when his grandfather King Haakon died on 21 September 1957, attending the Council of State for the first time with his father, now King Olav, and carrying out official duties, including state visits abroad, including the United States in 1960.

Crown Prince Harald first met Miss Sonja Haraldsen at a dinner party but they waited nine years before King Olav granted permission for his son to marry a commoner.

They were married in Oslo Cathedral on 29 August 1968 and have two children, They have two children, Princess Märtha Louise (born 22 September 1971) and Crown Prince Haakon (born 20 July 1973) and six grandchildren.

When King Olav died of a heart attack on 17 January 1991, Harald ascended the throne, and adopted his father and grandfather’s motto, ‘We give our all for Norway.’

Four days later, King Harald, with Queen Sonja present, swore an oath to uphold the Constitution.

On 23 June 1991, King Harald and Queen Sonja were consecrated in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim – a ceremony dating back over 1,000 years in Norway – to receive God’s blessing as they carry out their official duties.

Send Your Birthday Greetings To King Harald

The Royal Court has set up a web register for anyone who wishes to congratulate or post your birthday greetings to King Harald – Kong Harald 85 år: Gratulasjonsprotokoll.

It will remain open until midnight (local time).