Harald V

Harald V (born 21 February 1937) is the King of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991. The son of the then Crown Prince Olav and of Princess Märtha of Sweden, Harald was born at the Crown Prince Residence at Skaugum, Asker. Harald became the first Norwegian-born prince since the birth of Olav IV in 1370. Harald V is the formal head of the Church of Norway and the Norwegian Armed Forces. As he is the great-grandson of King Edward VII, he is also in the line of succession to the British throne. He is a second cousin to Queen Elizabeth II. King Harald has two sisters, Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen (born 1930), living in Brazil, and Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner (born 1932), living in Oslo.

Quotes

  • We have been given an assignment as a monarchy, and we do as well as we can … We try to be as little populistic as possible. We don't do anything on the spur of the moment to win an opinion poll, or short-term popularity.
    • Interview in Wenche Fuglehaug (November 21, 2005). "Norway's monarchy turns 100", Aftenposten, Aftenposten Multimedia A/S, Oslo, Norway.

Garden party in the Palace Park: welcoming speech (September 1, 2016)

Transcript (September 1, 2016)

  • So what is Norway?
    Norway is high mountains and deep fjords. It is wide open spaces and rocky coastlines. It is islands and archipelagos. It is lush farmland and rolling moors.
    The sea laps Norway’s shores in the north, west and south.
    Norway is midnight sun and polar night. It is harsh winters and mild winters. It is hot summers and cold summers.
    Norway is a long and sparsely populated country.
    But above all, Norway is its people.
  • Norwegians come from North Norway, Central Norway, Southern Norway – and all of the other regions. Norwegians have immigrated from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Poland, from Sweden, Somalia and Syria. My grandparents came here from Denmark and England 110 years ago.
  • It is not always easy to say where we are from, what nationality we are. Home is where our heart is – and that cannot always be confined within national borders.
    • "Home is where our heart is" is an ancient saying, reported at least as early as 1847, in Joseph C. Neal, "Singleton Snippe. Who Married for a Living", Graham's Magazine (1847), p. 166: "Home is where the heart is; and Snippe's heart was a traveler—a locomotive heart, perambulating; and it had no tendencies toward circumscription and confine".
  • Norwegians believe in God, Allah, the Universe and nothing.
  • Norway is you. Norway is us.
  • My greatest hope for Norway is that we will be able to take care of one another. That we will continue to build this country – on a foundation of trust, fellowship and generosity of spirit. That we will feel that we are – despite our differences – one people. That Norway is one.
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