Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway

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

Haakon represents the fourth generation of the sitting Norwegian royal family of the House of Glücksburg. He married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, with whom he has two children, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Haakon has been a member of the Young Global Leaders network, its Foundation, a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, and a philanthropist. He is a trained naval officer and, as crown prince, a top military official in the Norwegian Armed Forces. He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as an MSc in Development Studies from the London School of Economics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Forr">Template:Citation</ref><ref name=":0" />

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 Norwegian monarch, Olav V. At birth he was named Haakon Magnus, and it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. He was baptised in the Church of Norway on 20 September 1973 in the chapel of the Royal Palace.Template:Refn He was named in honour of his paternal great-grandfather, Haakon VII, his maternal uncle Haakon Haraldsen, and Magnus for the Norwegian saint and martyr. When Haakon was 17, his grandfather Olav died on 17 January 1991,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> leading to the accession of his father as King Harald V and his own advancement to crown prince.<ref>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."</ref>

Haakon has one sibling, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education and military

Haakon served in the Royal Norwegian Navy. He graduated from the Norwegian Naval Academy in 1995,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> followed with a year aboard missile torpedo boats and navy vessels.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

He attended and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2016 he completed the Norwegian Army's paratrooper course and was certified as a military paratrooper. The course attended was administered by the Special Operations Commando.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Marriage and children

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Haakon married a commoner and single mother, Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby, on 25 August 2001, at Oslo Cathedral.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Frederik (then Crown Prince, and now King) of Denmark was the best man.<ref name=":1" /> When the engagement between Crown Prince Haakon and Høiby was announced, many Norwegians felt that his choice of wife was inappropriate.<ref name="Hello">Hello profile of the Crown Princess Template:Webarchive Template:Better source needed</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, the father of her child was convicted of drug-related offences.<ref name="Hello" /> 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.<ref name="Hello" /> The issue of Mette-Marit's past was an ongoing discussion in Norwegian public discourse in the early years after their engagement and marriage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The couple have two children together: Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (born 21 January 2004 at Oslo University National Hospital in Oslo) and Prince Sverre Magnus (born 3 December 2005 in Oslo University National Hospital in Oslo).<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref> Haakon is also the stepfather to Mette-Marit's son, Marius Borg Høiby.<ref name=":2" /> The Skaugum Estate, situated in the area of Semsvannet, is their official residence.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Activities

File:16-11-2015 Presidente em exercício, Michel Temer, recebe no Itamaraty o príncipe herdeiro da Noruega, Haakon Magnus (23069823405).jpg

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 was regent 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. Haakon served as regent a third time during 2024 during the King's hospitalization due to an infection and pacemaker implantation surgery.<ref>Crown Prince Haakon of Norway steps up as regent while King Harald prepares for surgery.</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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 was one of three founders of Global Dignity, alongside Pekka Himanen and John Hope Bryant.<ref name="Norwegian Royal House"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2003, the Crown Prince was appointed as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).<ref name="Norwegian Royal House"/> In 2013, Crown Prince Haakon established the SIKT conference.<ref name="Norwegian Royal House">Template:Cite web</ref> The Crown Prince attends the annual conference of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO), and met the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) for an introduction in the Tripartite cooperation in 2016.<ref name="royalhouse">Template:Cite web</ref>

Crown Prince Haakon was a member of the Young Global Leaders network from 2005 until 2010. From 2010 until 2017, the Crown Prince served as a member of the Young Global Leaders Foundation Board.<ref name="Norwegian Royal House"/>

Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit established The Crown Prince and Crown Princess's Foundation.<ref name="Norwegian Royal House"/> He is a patron of 4H Norge, ANSA, The Ibsen Stage Festival, Nordland Music Festival, and several other organizations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, he became a patron of the Norwegian Refugee Council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In May 2022 Haakon joined an expedition from the University of Tromsø aimed at disseminating knowledge about polar history and the critical scientific research taking place in the Arctic for two weeks and crossed the Greenland ice sheet using a snowkite.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In response to the 2022 Oslo shooting, Haakon told reporters, "We must protect the right in Norway to love whomever we want."<ref name="ReutersReactionsHorror">Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal interests

Haakon was involved in several sports and seemed to take a particular liking to windsurfing and surfing, although 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 the Games opened, the Crown Prince lit the cauldron, paying tribute to his father and grandfather having served as Olympians. In 2016, his daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra did the same at the II Winter Youth Olympics, which was also held in Lillehammer. In 2010, Haakon attended the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

He accompanied the band Katzenjammer in their recording of the song "Vi tenner våre lykter" (i.e., 'We light our lanterns' for the 2011 Christmas-themed album of the same name). Proceeds benefited "Their Royal Highnesses The Crown Prince and Crown Princess funds."<ref>Katzenjammer – Vi tenner våre lykter Template:Webarchive, accessed 26 October 2012.</ref>

Titles, styles, honours and awards

File:Eesti suursaadik Norras andis üle volikirja 01 (cropped).jpg

Crown Prince Haakon in 2020. He is pictured wearing the formal ceremonial dress uniform of a full-ranking general in the Norwegian Army.

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

Foreign honours

Template:Flag: Grand Decoration in Gold with Sash of the Order of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria<ref name="AutHMM">[1] Template:Webarchive – website typischich.at</ref><ref name="Aut1811">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross
Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of the Balkan Mountains<ref name="Decorations">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Knight of Order of the Elephant ° (20 July 1991)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Member 1st Class of Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana ° (10 April 2002)<ref>Official website of the President of Estonia (Estonian)
Estonia: Member 1st Class of the ((Order of the White Star))

Estonian State Decorations – Kroonprints Haakon Template:Webarchive</ref>

Template:Flag: Member 1st Class of Order of the White Star (26 August 2014)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (15 October 2024)<ref name="Decorations" /> °
Template:Flag: Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany<ref name="Decorations" /> °
Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic ° (20 September 2004)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance<ref name="Decorations" />
Template:Flag: Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars (20 September 2000) °<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Recipient of the 1st Class of Cross of Recognition ° (12 March 2015)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great<ref name="Decorations" /> ° (23 March 2011)<ref>Lithuanian Presidency Template:Webarchive, Lithuanian Orders searching form</ref><ref>Photo Template:Webarchive of a State visit of Lithuania to Norway, March 2011</ref> °
Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolph of Nassau<ref name="Decorations" /> °
Template:Flag: Knight Grand Cross with Swords of the Order of Orange-Nassau<ref name="Decorations" /> °
Template:Flag: HM King Willem-Alexander Investiture Medal<ref name="Decorations" />
Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland ° (16 September 2003)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Henry ° (13 February 2004)<ref>Alvará n.º 2/2004 Template:Webarchive. Diário da República n.º 77/2004, Série II de 2004-03-3. p.5092.</ref>
Template:Flag: Recipient of Golden Order for Merits<ref name="Decorations" /> ° (6 November 2019)
Template:Flag: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III ° (26 May 2006)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Flag: Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim<ref name="Decorations" /> °
Template:Flag: Recipient of the Golden Jubilee Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf

Awards

14 August Committee's Bridge Building Prize 2011<ref>Crown Prince wins Pakistani prize Template:Webarchive – website Views and News from Norway</ref>
Template:Flagicon image 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.

References

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External links

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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"

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