King Haakon VIII

King Haakon VIII was born in Oslo on 20 July 1973 and grew up with his sister, Princess Märtha Louise. From an early age, he developed interests in water sports, outdoor life and music, interests that later shaped much of his public work. He became Crown Prince in 1991 following the death of King Olav V. In 2001 he married Mette- Marit Tjessem Høiby. The couple had two children, Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus. As Crown Prince, he represented Norway through extensive official visits both at home and abroad. From 2003 he served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme. Following the death of King Harald V 28 August 2026, he succeeded to the throne as King Haakon VIII.