Empress Michiko of Japan

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo: Zimbio

Empress Michiko of Japan – photo: Zimbio

Michiko Shōda was born on October 30, 1934, in Tokyo. She is the eldest daughter of Hidesaburō Shōda, president and later honorary chairman of Nisshin Flour Milling Company, and Fumiko Soejima. She had two brothers Iwao and Usamu, and a younger sister Emiko. Michiko was raised in Tokyo where she began her education, studying both a traditional and Western curriculum, learning to speak English and play the piano. During World War II, Michiko’s family left Tokyo because of the American bombings.  The family returned in 1946 and Michiko completed her primary and secondary education. She graduated from high school in 1953. She then attended the University of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature. She also attended Harvard University in the United States and Oxford University in England.

Michiko in 1940; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Michiko first met her future husband, then Crown Prince Akihito, son of Emperor Hirohito and Princess Nagako of Kuni, on a tennis court in August 1957. The Imperial Household Council formally approved the engagement of Crown Prince Akihito to Michiko Shōda on November 27, 1958, and the engagement ceremony took place on January 14, 1959. It would be the first time a commoner married into the Imperial Family. The engagement announcement drew criticism from traditionalist groups because Michiko came from a Roman Catholic family. She was never baptized but had been educated in Catholic schools and seemed to share the faith of her parents. Akihito and Michiko were married in a traditional Shinto ceremony on April 10, 1959.

There was much speculation that Akihito’s mother strongly opposed the marriage and that after she treated her commoner daughter-in-law harshly.  Michiko suffered from several nervous breakdowns because of the pressure of the media and the attitude of her mother-in-law, which resulted in making her lose her voice for seven months in the 1960s and again in the fall of 1993.

Akihito and Michiko on their wedding day with Emperor Shōwa and Empress Kōjun; Credit – Wikipedia

Akihito and Michiko had two sons and one daughter:

 

  • Michiko with her family in 1969; Photo Credit – By Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan – http://www.mofa.go.jp/s_sa/sea2/ph/page3e_000444.html, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=48716069

    During her husband’s reign, Empress Michiko was always present at the Emperor’s side, whether it be visiting regions of Japan or hosting visitors at the Imperial Palace. The couple became very popular because they attempted to be more in touch with the Japanese people. The Empress served as honorary president of the Japanese Red Cross and supported many organizations throughout Japan. In addition, Michiko is a classically trained pianist and enjoys poetry. Several books of her poems were published and wrote a children’s book “My First Mountain” in 1991.

    In December 2017, it was announced that Emperor Akihito would abdicate on April 30, 2019, and would be succeeded by his elder son Naruhito.  When her husband abdicated Michiko’s title became Jōkōgō, Empress Emerita. After the abdication, Akihito and Michiko lived temporarily at the Takanawa Imperial Residence, formerly the home of Prince and Princess Takamatsu, Akihito’s aunt and uncle. It had been empty since the death of Princess Takamatsu in 2004. They then moved to the Togu Palace at the Akasaka Estate, the former home of Emperor Naruhito and his family. Togu Palace was renamed Sento Imperial Palace, which translates as “the place where the retired imperial couple live.”

    Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko; photo: Wikipedia

    This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

  • State of Japan Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark; Photo: © Per Morten Abrahamsen 

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark was born as Princess Margrethe Alexandrine Þorhildur Ingrid of Denmark and Iceland on April 16, 1940, at Frederik VIII’s Palace at the Amalienborg Palace complex in Copenhagen, Denmark. She was the eldest daughter of the future King Frederik IX of Denmark and Princess Ingrid of Sweden. Margrethe was also a Princess of Iceland until 1944 when Iceland became a Republic.

The infant princess was christened on May 14, 1940, in Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen. She was named Margrethe after her late maternal grandmother Crown Princess Margaret of Sweden, Alexandrine after her paternal grandmother Queen Alexandrine, and Ingrid after her mother Crown Princess Ingrid. Since her paternal grandfather was also the King of Iceland, she was given an Icelandic name, Þórhildur (Thorhildur).

Her godparents were:

Queen Margrethe (middle) with her sisters Anne-Marie (left) and Benedikte (right); Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Margrethe has two sisters:

Embed from Getty Images 

In 1947, Margrethe’s grandfather died and her father became King Frederik IX. At the time, women were excluded from the line of succession. Having just three daughters, and unlikely that there would be more children, King Frederik’s heir presumptive was his younger brother, Prince Knud. Frederik soon began to work toward changing the succession laws in Denmark. Finally, in 1953, a new Act of Succession was passed, changing to male-preference cognatic primogeniture (meaning that sons would come before daughters, but in the absence of a son, Frederik’s daughters could succeed to the throne). Margrethe became the heiress-presumptive. Her uncle, Prince Knud, who had held the title of Hereditary Prince of Denmark, was unhappy with the new laws, as he and his two sons were now pushed further down the line. In somewhat of a consolation, Knud was given the title Hereditary Prince Knud even though he was no longer the direct heir to the throne. However, Margrethe, as heiress-presumptive, was never given the title of Crown Princess.

Princess Margrethe began her education at the Zahle’s Skole in 1946 (privately tutored at Amalienborg Palace for the first three years). She spent a year at the North Foreland Lodge, in Hampshire, England, and then graduated from Zahle’s Skole in 1959. She then studied philosophy at the University of Copenhagen and received her degree in Prehistoric Archeology from Girton College of the University of Cambridge in 1961. She continued her studies at Aarhus University (1961-1962), The Sorbonne (1963), and the London School of Economics (1965).

photo: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

Margrethe and Henri on their wedding day; Photo Credit: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

On June 10, 1967, Princess Margrethe married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat at Holmens Kirke in Copenhagen, followed by a banquet at Fredensborg Palace. After the wedding, Henri became a Prince of Denmark and was known by the Danish version of his name, Henrik. Following a honeymoon in Cozumel, Mexico, the couple took up residence at Amalienborg Palace, in Christian IX’s Palace (formerly Schack’s Palace).

Margrethe and Henrik had two sons:

photo: Radical Royalist

Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag proclaims Margrethe Queen of Denmark; photo: Radical Royalist

On January 14, 1972, King Frederik IX died after a brief illness. Margrethe ascended the Danish throne as Queen Margrethe II. The following day, in keeping with tradition, Margrethe was formally proclaimed Queen of Denmark by Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag, from the balcony at Christiansborg Palace. To the crowds gathered below, she gave a brief speech, expressing the nation’s grief at the loss of their King and the warm feelings held by all for her mother Queen Ingrid in this time of loss. She asked for God’s help in assuming the duties that had been her father’s for nearly 25 years, as well as the confidence and support of the Danish people. After being joined briefly on the balcony by her husband, the couple traveled back to Amalienborg Palace, where they again appeared on the balcony, this time with their two young sons.

In addition to her duties as Sovereign, Queen Margrethe always found time to express her passion for the arts. An avid painter and designer, she had her work displayed in exhibitions around the world. Some of her works are part of permanent collections in several museums in Denmark. In addition to her painting, Margrethe designed many sets and costumes for theater productions and provided illustrations for several books. She published translations of several foreign works.

The Danish Royal House announced on August 3, 2017, that Prince Henrik would not be buried with his wife Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at Roskilde Cathedral in Roskilde, Denmark, the traditional burial place of Danish royalty. On September 6, 2017, it was announced that Prince Henrik was suffering from dementia.  Prince Henrik died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at 11:18 pm, at Fredensborg Palace at the age of 83. His wife Queen Margrethe II and their two sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim were at his side.

Queen Margrethe and her family in 2017; Photo Credit – The Danish Monarchy

On January 14, 2022, Queen Margrethe II marked fifty years on the Danish throne. She is the second longest-reigning Danish monarch after King Christian IV, who reigned for 59 years, 330 days, from April 4, 1588 until February 28, 1648. As of January 14, 2022, the only current monarchs who reigned longer than Queen Margrethe II were Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (reigned since February 6, 1952) and Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei (reigned since October 5, 1967).

Queen Margrethe stated several times that she had no intention of abdicating and that she viewed her position as a job for life. She recognized Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom as a source of inspiration for her devotion to duty. Since the death of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in September 2022, Queen Margrethe had been the longest-reigning current European monarch.

Queen Margrethe II announces that she will abdicate during her New Year’s Speech

However, in her New Year’s Speech on December 31, 2023, Queen Margrethe announced that she will step down as Queen of Denmark on January 14, 2024, the 52nd anniversary of her accession. In her New Year’s Speech, Queen Margrethe stated:

In two weeks time I have been Queen of Denmark for 52 years. Such an amount will leave its mark on anybody – also on me! The time takes its toll, and the number of “ailments” increases. One cannot undertake as much as one managed in the past.

In February this year I underwent extensive back surgery. Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me. Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation.

I have decided that now is the right time. On 14th January 2024 – 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father – I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik.

Upon Queen Margrethe II’s abdication of January 14, 2024, her elder son and his wife became King Frederik X of Denmark and Queen Mary of Denmark. Frederik and Mary’s elder son became Crown Prince Christian of Denmark, the heir to the Danish throne. After her abdication, Margrethe held the style and title Her Majesty Queen Margrethe.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Kingdom of Denmark Resources at Unofficial Royalty

European Monarchies at the Start of World War I in 1914

german empire map

Europe in 1914; Photo Credit – www.clas.ufl.edu

All photos of monarchs are from Wikipedia. Current monarchies are noted. For comparison, see Unofficial Royalty: European Monarchies at the End of World War I in 1918

· Principality of Albania

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Wilhelm of Wied, Sovereign Prince of Albania (reigned 1914)
Wikipedia: Prince Wilhelm of Wied, Prince of Albania

·  Austrian-Hungarian Empire

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Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary (reigned 1848–1916)
Unofficial Royalty: Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria

·  Kingdom of Belgium (current monarchy)

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Albert I, King of the Belgians (reigned 1909–1934)
Unofficial Royalty: Albert I, King of Belgians

·  Kingdom of Bulgaria

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Ferdinand I, Tsar of Bulgaria (reigned 1887–1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Ferdinand I, Tsar of Bulgaria

·  Kingdom of Denmark (current monarchy)

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Christian X, King of Denmark (reigned 1912–1947)
Unofficial Royalty: Christian X, King of Denmark

·  German Empire

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Wilhelm II, German Emperor, King of Prussia (reigned 1888–1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Wilhelm II, German Emperor

The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent states, most of them ruled by royal families. The constituent states retained their own governments, but had limited sovereignty. For example, both postage stamps and currency were issued for the German Empire as a whole. While the constituent states issued their own medals and decorations, and some had their own armies, the military forces of the smaller ones were put under Prussian control. In wartime, armies of all the constituent states would be controlled by the Prussian Army and the combined forces were known as the Imperial German Army. Listed below are the constituent states of the German Empire ruled by royal families in 1914.

germany-1870

Photo Credit – http://www.atsnotes.com

German Kingdoms

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Prussia – Wilhelm II, German Emperor, King of Prussia (reigned 1888–1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Wilhelm II, German Emperor, King of Prussia

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Bavaria – Ludwig III, King of Bavaria (reigned 1913–1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Ludwig III, King of Bavaria

FA3_of_Saxony
Saxony – Friedrich Augustus III, King of Saxony (reigned 1904–1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich Augustus III, King of Saxony

Wilhelm_II_of_Wurtt
Württemberg – Wilhelm II, King of Württemberg (reigned 1891–1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Wilhelm II, King of Württemberg

German Grand Duchies

GrandDukeFriedrichII
Baden – Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Baden (reigned 1907-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich II, Grand Duke of Baden

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Hesse and by Rhine – Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine (reigned 1892-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Ernst Ludwig, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine

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Mecklenburg-Schwerin – Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (reigned 1897-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich Franz IV, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin

AdolfFriedrichVI
Mecklenburg-Strelitz – Adolf Friedrich VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (reigned 1914-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Adolf Friedrich VI, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz

August_II_von_Oldenburg_1902
Oldenburg – Friedrich Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg (reigned 1900-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich Augustus II, Grand Duke of Oldenburg

GrandDukeWILHELM
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach – Wilhelm Ernst, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (reigned 1901-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Wilhelm Ernst, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach

German Duchies

FriedrichDukeAnhalt2
Anhalt – Friedrich II, Duke of Anhalt (reigned 1904-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich II, Duke of Anhalt

Ernstaugusthannover
Brunswick – Ernst Augustus III, Duke of Brunswick (reigned 1913-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Ernst Augustus III, Duke of Brunswick

Ernstii
Saxe-Altenburg – Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg (reigned 1908-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Ernst II, Duke of Saxe-Altenburg

Carl_Eduard_Sachsen_Coburg_und_Gotha
Saxe-Coburg and Gotha – Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (reigned 1900-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Bernhard_III_(Saxe-Meiningen)
Saxe-Meiningen – Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen (reigned 1914-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Bernhard III, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen

German Principalities

Leopold_IV_Fürst_zur_Lippe
Lippe – Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe (reigned 1905 – 1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Leopold IV, Prince of Lippe

Heinrich_XXIV_RäL
Reuss-Greiz – Heinrich XXIV, Prince Reuss of Greiz (reigned 1902-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Heinrich XXIV, Prince Reuss of Greiz

HeinrichXXVII
Reuss-Gera – Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line (reigned 1913-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Heinrich XXVII, Prince Reuss Younger Line

AdolfSchaumburgLippe
Schaumburg-Lippe – Adolf II, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe (reigned 1911-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Adolf II, Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe

Günther_Victor_von_Schwarzburg
Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen – Günther Victor, Prince of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and Schwarzburg-Sondershausen (reigned 1909-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Günther Victor, Prince of Schwarzburg

220px-PrinceFRIEDRICHPyrmont
Waldeck-Pyrmont – Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont (reigned 1893-1918)
Unofficial Royalty: Friedrich, Prince of Waldeck and Pyrmont

·  Kingdom of Greece

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Constantine I, King of the Hellenes (reigned 1913–1917)
Unofficial Royalty: Constantine I, King of the Hellenes

·  Kingdom of Italy

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Vittorio Emanuele III, King of Italy (reigned 1900–1946)
Unofficial Royalty: Vittorio Emanuele III, King of Italy

·  Principality of Liechtenstein (current monarchy)

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Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein (reigned 1858–1929)
Unofficial Royalty: Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein

·  Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (current monarchy)

Marie-Adélaïde,_Grand_Duchess_of_Luxembourg_2
Marie Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (reigned 1912–1919)
Unofficial Royalty: Marie Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

·  Principality of Monaco (current monarchy)

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Albert I, Prince of Monaco (reigned 1889–1922)
Unofficial Royalty: Albert I, Prince of Monaco

·  Kingdom of Montenegro

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Nikola I, King of Montenegro (reigned 1860–1918)
Wikipedia: Nikola I, King of Montenegro

· Kingdom of the Netherlands (current monarchy)

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Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands (reigned 1890–1948)
Unofficial Royalty: Wilhelmina, Queen of the Netherlands

· Kingdom of  Norway (current monarchy)

Haakon7
Haakon VII, King of Norway (reigned 1905–1957)
Unofficial Royalty: Haakon VII, King of Norway

·  Ottoman Empire

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Mehmed V, Ottoman Sultan (reigned 1909–1918)
Wikipedia: Mehmed V, Ottoman Sultan

·  Kingdom of Romania

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Carol I, King of Romania (reigned 1866–1914)
Unofficial Royalty: Carol I, King of Romania

King_Ferdinand_of_Romania
Ferdinand I, King of Romania (reigned 1914–1927)
Unofficial Royalty: Ferdinand I, King of Romania

·  Russian Empire

Nicholas_II
Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia (reigned 1894–1917)
Unofficial Royalty: Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia

·  Kingdom of Serbia

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Peter I, King of Serbia (reigned 1903–1921)
Unofficial Royalty: Peter I, King of Serbia

·  Kingdom of Spain (current monarchy)

Alfonso_XIII_de_España_by_Kaulak
Alfonso XIII, King of Spain (reigned 1886–1931)
Unofficial Royalty: Alfonso XIII, King of Spain

·  Kingdom of Sweden (current monarchy)

CrownPrinceGustav(V)Sweden
Gustaf V, King of Sweden (reigned 1907–1950)
Unofficial Royalty: Gustaf V, King of Sweden

·  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (current monarchy)

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George V, King of the United Kingdom (reigned 1910–1936)
Unofficial Royalty: George V, King of the United Kingdom

King Harald V of Norway

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King Harald V of Norway; Credit – Wikipedia

King Harald V of Norway was born on February 21, 1937, at Skaugum, the residence of the Crown Prince, in Asker, Norway. His parents were Crown Prince Olav of Norway (later King Olav V) and Princess Märtha of Sweden.  At the time of Harald’s birth, his grandfather, King Haakon VII (born Prince Carl of Denmark, son of King Frederik VIII of Denmark) was the monarch and his grandmother, Queen Maud (born Princess Maud of Wales, daughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom) was his consort. King Harald is closely related to several European monarchs: King Philippe of Belgium and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg are his first cousins once removed, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is his second cousin, and King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and King Charles III of the United Kingdom are his second cousin once removed.

Harald was christened in the Royal Chapel of the Royal Palace in Oslo on March 31, 1937, by Bishop Johan Lunde. His godparents were:

King Harald has two older sisters:

Harald_baby

Harald in his mother’s arms with his family; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1940, when Harald was just three years old, Germany invaded Norway.  To avoid being taken into custody by the Germans, the Norwegian Royal Family and many members of the Government and the Storting (legislature) left Norway. Crown Princess Märtha and her three children, Princess Ragnhild, Princess Astrid, and Prince Harald, fled to Sweden, Märtha’s native country. King Haakon VII (Queen Maud had died in 1938) and Crown Prince Olav fled to London where they stayed with the Norwegian government in exile for the duration of World War II.

The family gathered outside Pook’s Hill: Prince Harald, Crown Princess Märtha, Princess Astrid, Princess Ragnhild, and Crown Prince Olav; Credit – Wikipedia

After staying in Sweden for several months, Crown Princess Märtha and her three children traveled to the United States by ship. President Franklin Roosevelt offered refuge to Crown Princess Märtha and her children. They stayed briefly at Roosevelt’s Hyde Park estate in New York State and then at the White House. Eventually, they settled into Pook’s Hill, a Tudor-style mansion in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC. Crown Princess Märtha worked quietly behind the scenes to support the war effort.

The family members were special favorites of President Roosevelt and when he took his fourth and final oath of office at the White House, an 8-year-old Prince Harald was standing behind him. Crown Princess Märtha’s work in the United States had a lasting impact on U.S.-Norwegian relations. Her advocacy on her country’s behalf during World War II influenced President Roosevelt’s famous “Look to Norway” speech. In September 2005, the United States erected a statue of Crown Princess Märtha on the grounds of the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, D.C. as a symbol of the enduring friendship between the two nations. The statue was unveiled by her three children.

Princess_Märtha_of_Sweden_statue

Statue of Crown Princess Märtha outside the Norwegian Embassy in Washington, DC; Credit – Wikipedia

Harald returned to Norway in June 1945 with his mother and his sisters. That autumn, he began to attend Smestad School in Oslo. In 1955, Harald graduated from the Oslo Cathedral School.  He then entered the Norwegian Cavalry Officers’ Training School and finished his military education at the Norwegian Military Academy in 1959. After Harald finished his compulsory military service, he studied social science, history, and economics at Balliol College, Oxford University in Oxford, England from 1960 – 1962.

Harald’s mother Crown Princess Märtha died of cancer in 1954 at the age of 53. On September 21, 1957, when Harald’s grandfather King Haakon VII died, Harald’s father became King Olav V, and Harald became Crown Prince. Thereafter, Harald attended the Council of State and acted as Regent in the King’s absence. He worked closely alongside his father and carried out an increasing number of official tasks, such as traveling with trade delegations to promote the Norwegian industry abroad.

When he was Crown Prince of Norway, Harald’s father King Olav V had won an Olympic Gold Medal for Sailing Mixed 6 Meters in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Although he did not win a medal, Harald followed in his father’s footsteps and represented Norway in Sailing events in three Summer Olympics: 1964/Tokyo, 1968/Mexico City, 1972/Munich.

Harald V_Olympics

Crown Prince Harald carries the Norwegian flag at the opening ceremony in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics; Photo: Royal House of Norway

In June 1959, Crown Prince Harald attended a party hosted by a friend, Johan Stenersen. At the party, he met another friend of Johan Stenersen, Sonja Haraldsen. In August 1959, when the Crown Prince graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy, he invited Sonja to attend the graduation ball, and the couple was photographed together.

Sonja_Crown Prince

Crown Prince Harald of Norway and Sonja Haraldsen at the Norwegian Military Academy Graduation Ball in August of 1959; Photo source: ATF

The relationship between the Crown Prince and Sonja was controversial because many people including politicians and journalists, felt the Crown Prince should marry a princess and not a Norwegian commoner. The controversy continued for years as did the relationship despite the media’s attempts to promote a royal marriage with either of the Greek princesses Sophia and Irene. Crown Prince Harald made it clear to his father King Olav V that he would remain unmarried if he could not marry Sonja. This would have resulted in a succession crisis as Harald was the sole heir to the throne. At that time, Norway did not allow female succession, so his two sisters Ragnhild and Astrid were not in the line of succession.

Finally, in 1968, when King Olav felt the position of the Norwegian people had changed to favor Sonja, he consulted with government leaders and consented to the Crown Prince to marry a commoner. The engagement of the couple was announced on March 19, 1968, with this announcement from King Olav V: “It is with pleasure that I inform you, Mr. President and Members of the Storting, that I, after seeking advice from the Prime Minister, members of the Government, you, Mr. President, and the parliamentary leaders of the political parties, have today given my consent to my dear son, Crown Prince Harald, to take as his wife Miss Sonja Haraldsen, daughter of the late Mr. Karl August Haraldsen and Mrs. Dagny Haraldsen née Ulrichsen.”

Sonja_Norway_engagement

Engagement Photo; Photo source: ATF

The wedding was held on August 29, 1968, at the Oslo Cathedral in the presence of 850 guests. Because the bride’s father was deceased and to show his support for his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, King Olav escorted the bride down the aisle.

Sonja_aisle

King Olav V escorting the bride down the aisle; Photo: Royal House of Norway

Sonja_Harald_wedding

The future King Harald V and Queen Sonja at their wedding; Photo: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

The couple had two children:

 

On January 17, 1991, King Olav V died and the Crown Prince became King Harald V. Crown Princess Sonja became the first Queen Consort of Norway in 53 years, since Queen Maud, wife of King Haakon VII, died in 1938. Along with King Harald, Queen Sonja was consecrated in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway on June 23, 1991.

Harald_Sonja_consecration

Consecration of the King and Queen; Photo: Royal House of Norway

In recent years, King Harald has been unable to perform his duties as sovereign due to ill health on several occasions: from December 2003 to mid-April 2004 due to urinary bladder cancer, from April to early June 2005 due to aortic stenosis, and in 2020 due to cardiac surgery to replace of a heart valve. In January 2021, King Harald underwent surgery for torn knee tendons and remained on sick leave through mid-April 2021. Crown Prince Haakon served as the country’s regent on these occasions, including giving the King’s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament in 2020. On January 31, 2024, the royal palace announced that King Harald was on “sick leave” until 2 February due to a respiratory infection. On 27 February 27, 2024, while on holiday in Malaysia, King Harald was again hospitalized on the resort island of Langkawi.

sonja_harald

Queen Sonja and King Harald; Photo: Royal House of Norway

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Kingdom of Norway Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands; Credit – Wikipedia

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was born on April 27, 1967, at the University Medical Center in Utrecht, The Netherlands. He was the first of three sons of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Claus von Amsberg.

Embed from Getty Images
Willem-Alexander held by his mother as his father looks on

The infant prince was christened Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church on September 2, 1967, in Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk in The Hague.

  • Willem: traditionally, the first name of the heir to the throne.
  • Alexander: a name his parents liked
  • Claus: after his father
  • George: after his paternal great-grandfather, Baron George von dem Bussche-Haddenhausen
  • Ferdinand: after Ferdinand von Bismarck, his father’s best friend

His godparents were

King Willem-Alexander has two brothers:

willem alexander birth family

Willem-Alexander, second from the right, with his family; Photo: Hello

Willem-Alexander lived with his family at Drakensteyn in Baarn, The Netherlands until 1981, when the family moved to Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, The Netherlands. Along with his brothers, he attended Nieuwe Baarnse School and Het Baarnsch Lyceum in Baarn. After moving to Huis Ten Bosch in 1981, Willem-Alexander attended the Eerste Vrijzinnig Christelijk Lyceum in The Hague. He completed his secondary education at Atlantic College in Llantwit Major, Wales, where he received an International Baccalaureate in 1985.

From 1985 – 1987, Willem-Alexander received military training at the Royal Netherlands Naval College in Den Helder, The Netherlands. He then served on board the frigates HNLMS Tromp and HNLMS Abraham Crijnssen. He served as a reservist in the Royal Netherlands Navy until his accession to the throne in 2013, when he was honorably discharged.

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Willem-Alexander in the navy uniform of Sub-Lieutenant in 1986; Photo: Wikipedia

In 1987, Willem-Alexander enrolled as a history student at Leiden University in Leiden, The Netherlands, and received his Master of Arts degree in 1993. While he was at Leiden University, Willem-Alexander was a member of the Minerva Student Society. The topic for his Masters dissertation was the Dutch response to France’s decision under President de Gaulle to leave NATO’s integrated command structure.

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Willem-Alexander with his mother at his graduation in 1993; source: http://www.anp-archief.nl/

Willem-Alexander has long been interested in water management and sports issues. He was an honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st century and patron of the Global Water Partnership. He was appointed as the Chairperson of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation in 2006.

From 1995 – 1998, Willem-Alexander was a patron of the Dutch Olympic Games Committee. In 1998, he became a member of the International Olympic Committee. He resigned from the IOC upon becoming King in 2013.

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King Willem-Alexander cheering on the Dutch speed skating team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi; Photo: Zimbio

In April 1999, Willem-Alexander met his future wife, Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti (born 1971 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) in Seville, Spain, during the Seville Spring Fair.  He did not introduce himself as a Prince, and at a later time, when he told Máxima who he was, she thought he was joking. Willem-Alexander and Máxima announced their engagement on March 30, 2001. The couple’s relationship caused significant controversy due to the role Máxima’s father, Jorge Zorreguieta, had in the Argentinian military dictatorship. Máxima’s father was forbidden to attend his daughter’s wedding. Willem-Alexander and Máxima were married on February 2, 2002, in a civil ceremony in the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam and then in a religious ceremony at Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima have three daughters:

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On January 28, 2013, Willem-Alexander’s mother, Queen Beatrix, announced her intention to abdicate in favor of him. Queen Beatrix signed the Instrument of Abdication at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013. Afterward, Willem-Alexander was inaugurated as King at the Nieuwe Kerk, adjacent to the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.

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King Willem-Alexander at his inauguration with Queen Máxima; Photo: Zimbio

When he became King of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander resigned from most of his official executive functions. The reason given was that he wanted to be a “king of all”, which did not include executive functions of a limited number of organizations. Willem-Alexander remained actively involved with the Orange Fund because he considered it the most important of his organizations. He is the honorary patron of several organizations.

Willem-Alexander is an avid pilot and has said that if he had not been born a royal, he would have liked to be an airline pilot. During the reign of his mother, he regularly flew the Dutch royal aircraft on trips. In May 2017, Willem-Alexander revealed that he had served as a first officer on KLM flights for 21 years, flying twice a month, even after his accession to the throne. Willem-Alexander was rarely recognized while in the KLM uniform.  A few passengers recognized his voice, although he never gave his name and only welcomed passengers on behalf of the captain and crew.

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Kingdom of the Netherlands Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Prince Albert II of Monaco

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Albert II of Monaco; Credit – Wikipedia

Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre) was born on March 14, 1958, at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco.  He is the only son and the second of three children of Rainier III, Sovereign Prince of Monaco and American actress and Academy Award winner Grace Kelly.

Albert was christened on April 20, 1958, at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco. His godparents were:

  • Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain, born Princess Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria
  • Prince Louis de Polignac, first cousin of his paternal grandfather
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Prince Albert on left with his family; Photo source: The Telegraph

Prince Albert has two sisters:

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Prince Albert with his mother in 1972; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Albert received his primary and secondary education in Monaco and graduated from the Lycée Albert Premier of Monaco in 1976. He spent time in his mother’s native country at Camp Tecumseh on Lake Winnipesaukee in Moultonborough, New Hampshire where he attended summer camp and was a camp counselor for six summers in the 1970s. Prince Albert spent additional time in the United States when he attended Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts as Albert Grimaldi. At Amherst College, he joined the Chi Psi fraternity, and the Amherst Glee Club, graduating in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science.

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Prince Albert addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations; Photo source: http://www.un.org/

After he graduated from college, Prince Albert had several educational opportunities that broadened his experience. From September 1981 – April 1982, Prince Albert trained onboard the French Navy’s helicopter carrier “Jeanne d’Arc.” He trained with various international companies in the United States and Europe in communication, financial management, and marketing from January 1983 to late 1985. Since May 1993, Prince Albert has led the Monaco delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations and has regularly taken the floor on behalf of the Principality of Monaco.

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Photo Credit – royalcorrespondent.com

Prince Albert has enjoyed participating in a variety of sports. He represented Monaco in Two-Man Bobsled and Four-Man Bobsled in five Winter Olympics (1988/Calgary, 1992/Albertville, 1994/Lillehammer, 1998/Nagano, 2002/Salt Lake City). Prince Albert has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985 and is President of the Monegasque Olympic Committee.

Prince Albert II being blessed by the Archbishop of Monaco at the Mass on July 12, 2005; Credit – Zimbio

Prince Rainier III died on April 6, 2005, and Albert became the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. On July 12, 2005, at the end of the official mourning period, Prince Albert’s accession to the throne was celebrated by a Mass at St. Nicholas’ Cathedral followed by a garden party for 7,000 Monégasques born in the principality. A second ceremony was held at St. Nicholas Cathedral on November 12, 2005, attended by many guests and royalty from around the world. The evening ended with a gala and opera performance in Monte Carlo.

In 2006, Prince Albert founded The Prince Albert II Foundation, a charity that has donated millions to various environmental projects. The foundation concentrates on environmental protection, sustainable development, climate change, the promotion of renewable energies, and biodiversity.

Before Prince Albert’s marriage in 2011, there was much discussion about what seemed to be his perpetual bachelor state and his dating experiences. On July 6, 2005, a few days before his enthronement ceremony, Prince Albert officially confirmed through his lawyer that he had an illegitimate son. Alexandre Coste (born August 24, 2003, in Paris, France) is the son of Prince Albert and Nicole Coste, a former Air France flight attendant, originally from Togo in Africa. Then in 2006, Prince Albert confirmed that he had an illegitimate daughter. Jazmin Grace Grimaldi (born March 4, 1992, in Palm Beach, California) is the daughter of Prince Albert and Tamara Rotolo, a California woman who reportedly worked as a waitress. DNA tests confirmed the paternity of both children and neither child has a claim on the throne of Monaco.

In June 2001 at the Marenostrum International Swimming Meet in Monaco which Prince Albert presided over, he met Charlene Wittstock (born 1978), a South African swimmer, who had represented her country in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. They were first seen together at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Charlene moved in with Prince Albert in 2006. She began accompanying him to events including the weddings of the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010 and of the Duke of Cambridge in 2011. On June 23, 2010, the Prince’s Palace announced the couple’s engagement. The civil ceremony was held on July 1, 2011, in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace.  The religious ceremony took place on July 2, 2011, in the courtyard of the Palace.

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Photo source: BBC/AP

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have two children, boy and girl twins.  Even though their daughter was born first, their son is the heir apparent because Monaco’s succession is male-preference cognatic primogeniture.

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Principality of Monaco Resources at Unofficial Royalty

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Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg; Credit – Wikipedia

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume) was born on April 16, 1955, in Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg. He is the eldest son and second child of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, and a first cousin of Philippe, King of the Belgians.

Henri was christened on April 19, 1955, at Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg. His godparents were:

Grand Duke Henri has four siblings:

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Grand Duke Henri on the left with his parents and three of his siblings; Credit – Wikipedia

Henri received his primary and secondary education in Luxembourg and France. In 1974, he enrolled at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and was commissioned an officer in 1975. Henri studied political science at the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, both in Geneva, Switzerland, and he graduated with honors in 1980.

While studying in Geneva, Henri met his future wife, María Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla, also a political science student. María Teresa was born in Cuba, but her parents left Cuba when she was three years old, and she grew up in New Jersey and New York City. The engagement took Luxembourg by surprise when it was announced on November 8, 1980. The couple married civilly at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City on February 4, 1981, and religiously on February 14, 1981, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City.

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The couple had five children:

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On October 7, 2000, Grand Duke Jean abdicated, Henri became Grand Duke and took the constitutional oath before the Chamber of Deputies later that day. Grand Duke Henri is a constitutional monarch and therefore has limited powers. He has the power to appoint the Prime Minister and Government, to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies, to proclaim laws enacted by the Chamber of Deputies, and to accredit ambassadors. Grand Duke Henri is Commander-in-Chief of the Luxembourg Army and holds the rank of General.

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Grand Duke Henri and his family at the swearing-in ceremony

Grand Duke Henri is active in many organizations. He is a member of the International Olympic Committee, a member of The Mentor Foundation established by the World Health Organization as an international NGO voice of drug use and substance abuse prevention, and a Director of the Charles Darwin Trust for the Galapagos Islands.  The Grand Duke is a member of the board of directors of the Foundation of the Grand Duke and of the Grand Duchess, of which the Grand Duchess is President, and which aims to work for people in distress and with specific needs in Luxembourg society. The Foundation also supports projects in Africa and Asia.

In his Christmas Eve speech on December 24, 2024, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg announced that he would abdicate in favor of his eldest son, Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, on October 3, 2025. The elder of Prince Guillaume’s two sons, Prince Charles of Luxembourg, born  May 10, 2020, will become the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

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Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg arrive for the baptism of their grandson, Prince Charles of Luxembour,g on September 19, 2020

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Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein

by Scott Mehl    © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein; Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein was born on February 14, 1945, in Zurich. He is the eldest son of Prince Franz Josef II of Liechtenstein and Countess Georgina von Wilczek.

Hans-Adam has four younger siblings:

The Prince attended elementary school in Vaduz and then attended the Schottengymnasium (Scots School) in Vienna, and the Lyceum Alpinum in Zuoz, Switzerland. After briefly working as an intern in a bank in London, he enrolled at the University of St Gallen in Switzerland, graduating in 1969 with a Masters Degree in Business and Economic Studies.

On July 30, 1967, Hans-Adam married Countess Marie Aglaë Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau, his second cousin once removed, at Vaduz Cathedral in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. The couple had four children:

In 1970, Prince Hans-Adam took over the management and reorganization of all of the Princely family’s assets. Hans-Adam established the Prince of Liechtenstein Foundation, essentially a holding company for the various assets, businesses, museums, and collections owned by the Princely Family. One of these companies, the LGT Group, is the largest family-owned private wealth and asset manager in Europe.

On August 26, 1984, Prince Franz Josef II appointed Hans Adam as his deputy, handing over most of his duties as Head of State. Franz Josef died on November 13, 1989, and Hans-Adam became the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein, Hans-Adam II.

In a similar move, in 2004, Prince Hans-Adam II appointed his son, Hereditary Prince Alois, as his deputy. While Hans-Adam remains Head of State, the Hereditary Prince has assumed most of the duties of the position. Prince Hans-Adam now focuses primarily on the management of the assets of the Princely Family.

The succession to the throne of Liechtenstein is based upon agnatic primogeniture which forbids women to succeed.  A United Nations committee raised concerns regarding gender equality with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In 2007, Prince Hans-Adam II explained that the succession law is older than the Principality of Liechtenstein itself,  is a family tradition that does not affect the citizens, and the Constitution of Liechtenstein Constitution states that succession to the throne is a private family matter.

After suffering a stroke three days earlier, Hans-Adam’s wife Princess Marie died at a hospital in Grabs, Switzerland on August 21, 2021, at the age of 81.

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Principality of Liechtenstein Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Queen Sonja of Norway

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Queen Sonja of Norway; Credit – Royal House of Norway

Sonja Haraldsen was born on July 4, 1937, in Oslo, Norway, the daughter of Karl August Haraldsen (1889–1959) and Dagny Ulrichsen (1898–1994). Sonja grew up at 1B Tuengen Allé in Vinderen, Oslo, Norway, one of the wealthiest areas of Oslo. After her elementary education, Sonja received her secondary education at Oslo Vocational School where she studied dressmaking and tailoring. This was a useful course of study as her family owned a clothing store. Sonja then attended a finishing school in Lausanne, Switzerland, École Professionelle des Jeunes Filles, where she studied social science, accounting, and fashion design. When she returned to Norway, Sonja attended the University of Oslo. She studied French, English, and Art History and received an undergraduate degree.

In June of 1959, a few months after her father died, Sonja attended a party hosted by a friend, Johan Stenersen. At this party, Sonja met another friend of Johan Stenersen, Crown Prince Harald of Norway. In August 1959, when the Crown Prince graduated from the Norwegian Military Academy, he invited Sonja to attend the graduation ball, and the couple was photographed together.

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Crown Prince Harald of Norway and Sonja Haraldsen at the Norwegian Military Academy Graduation Ball in August of 1959; Photo: ATF

The relationship between the Crown Prince and Sonja was controversial as many people felt the Crown Prince should marry a princess, not a Norwegian commoner. The controversy continued for years as did the relationship despite the media’s attempts to promote a royal marriage with either of the Greek princesses Sophia and Irene. Crown Prince Harald made it clear to his father King Olav V that he would remain unmarried if he could not marry Sonja. This would have resulted in a succession crisis as Harald was the sole heir to the throne. At that time, Norway did not allow female succession, so his two sisters Ragnhild and Astrid were not in the line of succession.

Finally, in 1968, when King Olav felt the position of the Norwegian people had changed to favor Sonja, he consulted with parliamentary leaders and other government leaders and gave his consent for the Crown Prince to marry a commoner. The engagement of the couple was announced on March 19, 1968, with this announcement from King Olav V: “It is with pleasure that I inform you, Mr. President and Members of the Storting, that I, after seeking advice from the Prime Minister, members of the Government, you, Mr. President, and the parliamentary leaders of the political parties, have today given my consent to my dear son, Crown Prince Harald, to take as his wife Miss Sonja Haraldsen, daughter of the late Mr. Karl August Haraldsen and Mrs. Dagny Haraldsen née Ulrichsen.”

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Engagement photo of Sonja and Harald; Credit – ATF

The wedding was held on August 29, 1968, at the Oslo Cathedral in the presence of 850 guests. Because the bride’s father was deceased and to show his support for his soon-to-be daughter-in-law, King Olav escorted the bride down the aisle. After her marriage, Sonja became Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Noway.

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King Olav V escorting the bride down the aisle; Photo: Royal House of Norway

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The future King Harald V and Queen Sonja at their wedding; Photo: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor 

The couple had two children:

On January 17, 1991, King Olav V died and Sonja’s husband became King Harald V. Sonja became the first Queen Consort of Norway in 53 years, since the death of Queen Maud, wife of King Haakon VII, in 1938. Along with King Harald, Queen Sonja was consecrated in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway on June 23, 1991.

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Consecration of the King and Queen; Photo: Royal House of Norway

Queen Sonja has been very active in cultural and social causes. In 1988, as Crown Princess, she started a music competition, now called The Queen Sonja International Music Competition. Originally only for pianists, the competition is now only for singers and the winners receive a cash prize and prestigious engagements at Norwegian music institutions. In addition, Queen Sonja’s School Award was established in 2006 and is awarded to schools that have “demonstrated excellence in its efforts to promote inclusion and equality”. In 2011, Queen Sonja established The Foundation for the Queen Sonja Nordic Art Award.

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Queen Sonja and King Harald; Photo: Royal House of Norway

Queen Sonja is also the patron of the following organizations:

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Kingdom of Norway Resources at Unofficial Royalty

King Abdullah II of Jordan

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

photo credit: AP Photo/Yousef Allan, Jordanian Royal Palace

King Abdullah II of Jordan – Credit – AP Photo/Yousef Allan, Jordanian Royal Palace

King Abdullah II of Jordan was born January 30, 1962, in Amman, Jordan, the eldest son of King Hussein I of Jordan and his second wife Antoinette Gardiner (Princess Muna).

Abdullah has three younger siblings:

  • Prince Feisal (born 1963), married (1) Alia Tabbaa, had four children, divorced (2) Sara Bassam Qabbani, no children, divorced (3) Zeina Lubbadeh, had two children
  • Princess Aisha (born 1968), married (1) Zeid Saadedine Juma, had two children, divorced  (2) Ashraf Banayoti, divorced
  • Princess Zein (born 1968), married Majdi Farid Al-Saleh, had three children

Abdullah has a number of half-siblings from his father’s other three marriages.

From his father’s first marriage to Sharifa Dina bint ‘Abdu’l-Hamid (Queen Dina):

  • Princess Alia (born 1956), married (1) Lieutenant-Colonel Nasser Wasfi Mirza, had one child, divorced  (2) Sayyid Mohammed Al-Saleh, had two children

From his father’s third marriage to Alia Baha ad-Din Toukan (Queen Alia):

From his father’s fourth marriage to Lisa Najeeb Halaby (Queen Noor):

At birth, Abdullah was Crown Prince and heir-apparent to the Jordanian throne. However, in 1965, due to the political unrest in the region, King Hussein instead named his brother Prince Hassan, as Crown Prince. The succession laws in Jordan follow agnatic primogeniture but King Hussein had the constitution changed to allow the reigning King to override the usual line of succession and appoint someone else in the royal family as his heir.

Abdullah began his education at the Islamic Educational College in Amman, before attending St Edmund’s School, in Hindhead, Surrey, and the Deerfield Academy, in Massachusetts. He then enrolled in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, attaining the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1981. He served in the British Army in the 13th/18th Royal Hussars Regiment as a reconnaissance troop leader. He returned to Jordan in 1985 and began serving in the Jordanian Armed Forces. By 1993, he had become Commander of the Jordanian Special Forces, and by 1998, had risen to the rank of Major General.

In January 1993, Prince Abdullah met Rania al-Yassin at a dinner party hosted by mutual friends. Quickly smitten, he proposed just two months later and the couple was married on June 10, 1993. At the time, neither one likely suspected that they would one day become King and Queen of Jordan.

They had four children:

On February 7, 1999, Abdullah became King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, upon the death of his father, King Hussein. Just two weeks earlier, King Hussein had stripped his brother, Prince Hassan, of the title of Crown Prince, and named Abdullah as his successor. A formal accession ceremony took place in June of the same year. In accordance with King Hussein’s wishes, Abdullah named his younger half-brother Prince Hamzah (eldest son of King Hussein and Queen Noor) as his heir and Crown Prince. However, in 2004 he stripped Hamzah of the title. Without naming a successor, the normal line of succession applied, making Abdullah’s eldest son, Prince Hussein, heir to the throne. Finally, in 2009, King Abdullah formally named Prince Hussein as Crown Prince of Jordan.

King Abdullah II has continued his father’s legacy, working toward peace in the region and making “the welfare of the Jordanian people the cornerstones of his policies for national development, regional peace, and global existence.” (source: kingabdullah.jo)

In his free time, the King enjoys various sporting activities, sharing his father’s passion for motorcycles. He is also a huge science fiction fan, and in 1996, he appeared in a non-speaking role in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager. See Unofficial Royalty: Beam Me Up…Abdullah?  In addition, he was the driving force and primary investor behind a large Star Trek theme park built as part of a huge resort complex – The Red Sea Astrarium – in Aqaba, Jordan.

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Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Resources at Unofficial Royalty