King Harald V (21 February 1937 - 28 August 2026) was King of Norway for more than 35 years. He succeeded his father, King Olav V, in January 1991 and became one of the most familiar figures in modern Norwegian public life. His death in August 2026 marked a new chapter for the monarchy: his son immediately succeeded him as King Haakon VIII, while Ingrid Alexandra became Crown Princess and the next generation moved to the center of the royal line.
That transition has renewed interest in the King Harald V family tree. Who were Harald's parents? Who are his children and grandchildren? And how does the Norwegian line of succession connect Harald V, Haakon VIII, and Ingrid Alexandra? The family tree below gives a clear visual answer.
In this article
King Harald V Family Tree
The modern Norwegian royal family belongs to the House of Glücksburg. In this branch of the family, King Harald V was the only son of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha of Sweden. Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, and they had two children: Princess Märtha Louise and Haakon, who later became King Haakon VIII.
The diagram focuses on the direct family relationships around Harald V and the current succession line. It shows three generations at a glance, from Harald's parents to his children and grandchildren.
King Olav V
King Olav V (1903-1991) was Harald V's father. Born Prince Alexander of Denmark, he became Crown Prince Olav when his father, Haakon VII, was elected King of Norway in 1905. Olav succeeded Haakon VII in 1957 and reigned until his death on 17 January 1991. Harald then became King of Norway.
Crown Princess Märtha
Crown Princess Märtha of Norway (1901-1954), born Princess Märtha of Sweden, was Harald V's mother. She married Crown Prince Olav in 1929. The couple had three children: Princess Ragnhild, Princess Astrid, and Prince Harald. Märtha died before Olav became king, so she never became Queen of Norway.
King Harald V
Harald V was born at Skaugum on 21 February 1937. He was the youngest child and only son of Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha. Harald became king after Olav V died in 1991 and reigned until his death on 28 August 2026. His reign linked the generation that rebuilt the monarchy after World War II with the royal family seen in Norway today.
Harald was also known outside royal duties for sailing. Before becoming king, he represented Norway at three Olympic Games. His marriage to Sonja Haraldsen was especially significant because she was a commoner, and the couple waited years before receiving permission to marry.
Queen Sonja
Queen Sonja was born Sonja Haraldsen in Oslo on 4 July 1937. She married then Crown Prince Harald in Oslo Cathedral on 29 August 1968. When Harald became king in 1991, Sonja became Queen of Norway. They have two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Haakon.
Princess Märtha Louise
Princess Märtha Louise was born on 22 September 1971 and is the elder child of Harald V and Queen Sonja. Because the Norwegian succession rules that gave equal priority to women and men did not apply retroactively to her generation, her younger brother Haakon remained ahead of her in the line of succession. She has three daughters from her first marriage and married Durek Verrett in 2024.
King Haakon VIII
King Haakon VIII, born Haakon Magnus on 20 July 1973, is the son of Harald V and Queen Sonja. He married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in Oslo Cathedral on 25 August 2001. For many years he served as Crown Prince and heir to the throne.
After Harald V died on 28 August 2026, Haakon automatically became King of Norway under the Constitution. At the extraordinary Council of State that day, he announced that he would reign as Haakon VIII and continue the royal motto Alt for Norge (“We give our all for Norway”).
Queen Mette-Marit
Queen Mette-Marit was born Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby on 19 August 1973. She married Haakon in 2001 and served as Crown Princess for 25 years before becoming Queen when her husband ascended the throne in 2026. Together, Haakon and Mette-Marit have two children: Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus.
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra was born on 21 January 2004. She is the elder child of Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit. Following her father's accession in 2026, she became Crown Princess and moved to the front of the Norwegian line of succession. Her position also reflects Norway's modern succession rules, under which gender no longer determines priority for members born after the 1990 reform.
Prince Sverre Magnus
Prince Sverre Magnus was born in Oslo on 3 December 2005. He is the younger child of Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit and the younger brother of Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra. Under the current order of succession, he follows his sister.
Who Succeeded King Harald V?
King Haakon VIII succeeded King Harald V on 28 August 2026. Norway is a constitutional monarchy, and the country is never without a monarch: when a reigning king or queen dies, the first person in the line of succession automatically takes the throne.
The succession created a clear generational shift in the family tree:
- Harald V became the late king after his death in August 2026.
- Haakon VIII became King of Norway.
- Mette-Marit became Queen of Norway.
- Ingrid Alexandra became Crown Princess and the next heir in the direct line.
- Sverre Magnus follows his elder sister in the succession order.
This is why a family tree is particularly useful here: it shows both the personal relationships and the way the crown moves from one generation to the next.
How to Make a Similar Family Tree?
A royal family tree may look complex, but the process is straightforward when you build it generation by generation. The same method works for your own relatives, historical families, or fictional character relationships.
- Gather reliable details: List names, birth and death dates, marriages, children, and any titles you want to display.
- Choose the scope: Decide whether your tree will show only direct ancestors and descendants or include siblings, spouses, and extended branches.
- Arrange by generation: Keep parents on one level, children on the next, and grandchildren below them so the relationships are easy to scan.
- Use consistent relationship lines: Distinguish marriage links from parent-child branches and avoid crossing connectors where possible.
- Add portraits and labels: Photos make a family tree easier to recognize, while short labels can show titles, dates, or roles.
- Verify every connection: Recheck dates, names, and succession relationships before publishing or sharing the diagram.
- Save an editable copy: Keep the original diagram file so you can update the family tree when relationships or titles change.
Steps to Make a Family Tree in EdrawMax
Wondershare EdrawMax can be used to turn family information into a structured visual diagram. The King Harald V family tree can be recreated by starting with the oldest generation and then adding each branch in order.
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Step1 Start a New Family Tree
- Open EdrawMax and create a new blank drawing or choose a family tree template.
- Add a clear title such as “King Harald V Family Tree.”
Step2 Add Harald V's Parents
- Place King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha at the top of the tree.
- Connect the couple and create a downward branch for their son, Harald V.
Step3 Build Harald and Sonja's Branch
- Add Harald V and Queen Sonja as a couple on the next generation.
- Create separate child branches for Princess Märtha Louise and Haakon.
Step4 Add the Current Royal Generation
- Add Queen Mette-Marit beside Haakon, then connect Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus below them.
- Use portraits, years, and short royal titles to make each person easy to identify.
Step5 Style, Save, and Export
- Adjust spacing, portrait frames, colors, fonts, and connector lines so the generations remain visually balanced.
- Save the editable EdrawMax file, then export a PNG, JPG, or PDF for websites, presentations, or printing.
FAQs About King Harald V's Family
Who are King Harald V's children?
King Harald V and Queen Sonja have two children: Princess Märtha Louise, born in 1971, and Haakon, born in 1973. Haakon succeeded his father in 2026 as King Haakon VIII.
Who became king after Harald V?
Harald V's son Haakon became King Haakon VIII immediately after Harald died on 28 August 2026. The Norwegian Constitution provides for automatic succession when a monarch dies.
Who is the next heir after King Haakon VIII?
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra is the next person in the direct line of succession. She is King Haakon VIII's elder child and was born in 2004.
What royal house does King Harald V belong to?
King Harald V and his descendants belong to the House of Glücksburg, the dynasty that has occupied the Norwegian throne since Haakon VII became king in 1905.
Wrapping Up
The King Harald V family tree explains more than names and dates. It shows how Norway's modern monarchy connects King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha to Harald V, and from Harald to the new royal generation led by King Haakon VIII and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
If you want to build a similar visual history, EdrawMax's family tree maker lets you combine portraits, names, dates, and relationship lines in one editable diagram. Save the source file as your family grows or as historical information changes, then export a clean image whenever you need to share it.
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