Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway

Haakon Crown Prince of Norway The Crown Prince in 2015 Born (1973-07-20) 20 July 1973 The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway Spouse Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway (m. 2001) Issue Princess Ingrid Alexandra Prince Sverre Magnus Full name Haakon Magnus House Glücksburg[1] Father Harald V of Norway Mother Sonja Haraldsen Religion Church of Norway

Norwegian royal family HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Crown Prince HRH The Crown Princess HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra HH Prince Sverre Magnus HH Princess Märtha Louise Ari Behn Maud Angelica Behn Leah Isadora Behn Emma Tallulah Behn Erling Lorentzen HH Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

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

In 2001, Haakon married Mette-Marit Høiby with whom he has two children. He has an older sister, Princess Märtha Louise. In accordance with Norway's agnatic primogeniture succession, Haakon became crown prince when his father ascended the throne in 1991.

The Skaugum Estate, situated in the area of Semsvannet, is the official residence of the Norwegian Crown Prince and the Crown Princess.^[2]

Family and early life

Haakon was born in 20 July 1973 at The National Hospital the Oslo University Hospital in Oslo, the only son and younger child of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. At birth he was named Haakon Magnus, and it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon.^[3]

Haakon has one sibling, Princess Märtha Louise (born 1971). In 1990, the Norwegian constitution was altered, granting absolute primogeniture to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession. This was not, however, done retroactively (as, for example, Sweden had done in 1980), meaning that Haakon continues to take precedence over his older sister.

Education and military

Haakon has served in the Royal Norwegian Navy, where he undertook his first-level officer's education at the Norwegian Naval Academy. This was then followed with a year aboard missile torpedo boats and other vessels. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999.^[4] Haakon later attended lectures at the University of Oslo and took the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' civil servant introductory course in 2001. He completed his education in 2003 at the London School of Economics, where he was awarded an MSc in development studies, specializing in international trade and Africa.

As of 15 November 2013, in the Royal Norwegian Navy his officer rank is Admiral, and in the Norwegian Army and the Royal Norwegian Air Force his rank is General.^[5]

Marriage and children

Haakon married a commoner and single mother Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby on 25 August 2001, at Oslo Cathedral. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark was the best man. When the engagement between Crown Prince Haakon and Høiby was announced, many Norwegians felt that his choice of wife was inappropriate.^[6] This was primarily about her being a single mother, but information concerning her involvement in the rave scene in Oslo, which included a significant drug-subculture, also added to the controversy.^[7] In addition, the father of her child was convicted of drug-related offenses.^[6] In a heartfelt press conference before the wedding the bride explained her past, saying among other things that her youthful rebelliousness might have been stronger than most young people.^[6] The issue of Mette-Marit's past is an ongoing discussion in Norwegian public discourse.

The couple have two children together: Princess Ingrid Alexandra (born 21 January 2004 at Rikshospitalet in Oslo) and Prince Sverre Magnus (born 3 December 2005 at Rikshospitalet in Oslo). Haakon is also the stepfather to Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby, from her relationship with Morten Borg.

Activities

Haakon with then Brazilian Vice President Michel Temer at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, 16 November 2015.

From 25 November 2003 to 12 April 2004, Haakon was the Regent of Norway during the King's treatment for cancer and the subsequent convalescence period. Likewise, Haakon was Regent from 29 March 2005 until the King had fully recovered from the heart surgery he underwent on 1 April. This period ended on 7 June.

In addition to his official duties, Haakon has a strong interest in cultural matters. He also has given patronage to a number of organisations. In 2006, Haakon established Global Dignity with Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant. Global Dignity is an independent, non-political organization that promotes the universal right of every human being to lead a dignified life. Members of the organization include entrepreneurs Richard Branson and Sandro Salsano.

Personal interests

Haakon was involved in several sports and seemed to take a particular liking to windsurfing. However, he has not engaged in serious competitions. Haakon is known as a big music fan. When he was younger, he attended music festivals all over Europe, including the Roskilde Festival in Denmark and the Quart Festival in Kristiansand, Norway.

He has also been part of Olympics ceremonies. In 1994, the Crown Prince and his father played roles during the opening ceremony in Lillehammer. While the King declared open the Games, the Crown Prince lit the cauldron, paying tribute to his father and grandfather having served as Olympians. He attended the opening ceremony in Vancouver.

He accompanied the band Katzenjammer in their recording of the song "Vi tenner våre lykter" (for the 2011 Christmas-themed album of the same name). Proceeds benefited "Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess funds."^[8]

Titles, styles, honours and awards

Coat of arms

Monogramme

Titles

• 20 July 1973 - 17 January 1991: His Royal Highness Prince Haakon Magnus of Norway
• 17 January 1991- present: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

Honours

(° = Honours mentioned on his official website page)

National honours

• Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav °
• Knight Grand Cross of 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^[9]
• Royal Norwegian Navy Service Medal °
• Norwegian Reserve Officers Federal Badge of Honour °
• Naval Society Medal of Merit in gold °
• Oslo Military Society Badge of Honour in Gold °

Foreign honours

•  Austria: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria, 1st Class^[10][11]
•  Brazil: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
•  Bulgaria: Grand Cross of the Order of the Balkan Mountains
•  Denmark: Knight Grand Cross of Order of the Elephant ° (20/07/1991)
•  Estonia: Grand Cross of Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana ° (10.04.2002)^[12]
•  Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose °^[13]
•  Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Special Issue °
•  Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon. ^[14]
•  Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic °
•  Japan: Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum^[15]
•  Jordan: Knight Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
•  Latvia: Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars °
•  Lithuania : Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great^[16][17] °
•  Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Adolph of Nassau °
•  Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau °
•  Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland °
•  Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Henry °^[18]
•  Spain: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III°^[19]
•  Sweden: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Seraphim °

Awards

• 14 August Committee’s Bridge Building Prize 2011^[20]
• 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 Travpark.

Ancestry

He is a third cousin of Charles, Prince of Wales, heir apparent of the United Kingdom. As a descendant of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Haakon is also eligible to succeed to the thrones of the sixteen Commonwealth realms.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway.

• Haakon's biography on the Royal Court's official website
• Haakon, Norges kronprins. NRK interview for his 18th birthday
• (translation of title: - The couple, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, are doing political work) "- Kronprinsparet driver politisk arbeid"