Ancestors of King Harald V of Norway

compiled by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

King Harald V of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

In the early part of its existence (872-1319), the Kingdom of Norway was ruled, for the most part, by independent kings who were actual Norwegians. However, from 1319-1905, the Kingdom of Norway was either in a union with the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Sweden, or the Kalmar Union which was a union of the Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. During this time period, Norway was ruled by either the monarch of Denmark or the monarch of Sweden.

In 1905, upon the dissolution of the union between Sweden and Norway, the Norwegian government began searching for candidates to become King of Norway. Because of his descent from the early independent Norwegian kings, as well as the British connections of his wife and first cousin Princess Maud, daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom, Prince Carl of Denmark, the second son of King Frederik VIII of Denmark, was the overwhelming favorite. Before accepting, Carl insisted that the voices of the Norwegian people be heard in regard to retaining a monarchy. Following a referendum with a 79% majority in favor, Prince Carl was formally offered and then accepted the throne. Carl took the Old Norse name Haakon which had been the name of six early independent Kings of Norway and reigned as King Haakon VII. His two-year-old son Prince Alexander of Denmark was renamed Olav, became Crown Prince of Norway, and later reigned as King Olav V of Norway. King Olav V and King Haakon VII were the father and grandfather of King Harald V.

Among King Harald V’s ancestors are monarchs of Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, along with many royals from the German monarchies but he most likely has very little Norwegian DNA. This will change when his son Crown Prince Haakon becomes king because his mother, born Sonja Haraldsen in Norway, most likely has nearly 100% Norwegian DNA.

Parents, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Great-Great-Grandparents, and Great-Great-Great-Grandparents of King Harald V of Norway (born February 21, 1937)

The links below are from Unofficial Royalty or Wikipedia.

Parents

King Harald V’s parents; Credit – Wikipedia

Grandparents

King Haakon VII of Norway and Princess Maud of Wales, paternal grandparents of King Harald V; Credit – Wikipedia

Great-Grandparents

King Edward VII of the United Kingdom and Princess Alexandra of Denmark, great-grandparents; Credit – Wikipedia

Great-Great-Grandparents

Great-Great-Grandparents two times, King Christian IX of Denmark and Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel; Credit – Wikipedia

Great-Great-Great-Grandparents


King Oscar I of Sweden and Princess Josephine of Leuchtenberg, great-great-grandparents and great-great-great-grandparents two times; Credit – Wikipedia

Sources:

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