http://www.kongehuset.no/c27226/seksjonstekst_person/vis.html?tid=27658

Wikipedia:

English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haakon,_Crown_Prince_of_Norway

Norsk: http://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kronprins_Haakon

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Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway (born on 20 July 1973 in Oslo, full name Haakon Magnus) is the heir apparent to the throne of Norway. On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus but it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. He became Crown Prince Haakon when his father ascended to the crown as Harald V in 1991. If Crown Prince Haakon becomes king as expected, he will be known as Haakon VIII of Norway.

Family and heritage

The godparents of Haakon the crown prince of Norway are King Olav V of Norway, Princess Astrid of Norway, Prince Carl Bernadotte, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Princess Anne, The Princess Royal. As a descendant of King Edward VII, Haakon is currently the 63rd in line to the throne of each of the sixteen Commonwealth Realms. He is a third cousin to The Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, present heir to the thrones of the Commonwealth Realms.

Haakon has one sibling, Princess Märtha Louise (born 1971). In 1990 the Norwegian constitution was altered, granting absolute primogeniture to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession. This was not, however, done retroactively (as, for example, Sweden had done in 1980), meaning that Haakon continues to take precedence over his older sister.

[edit]Education and military life

Haakon served in the Royal Norwegian Navy undertaking his first-level officer's education at the Norwegian Naval Academy, followed by a year aboard missile torpedo boats and other vessels. He then went abroad, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. Haakon later attended lectures at the University of Oslo and took the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' civil servant introductory course in 2001. He completed his education in 2003 at the London School of Economics, where he was awarded an Msc in development studies, specializing in international trade and Africa.

[edit]Marriage and children

Haakon married commoner and single mother Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby on 25 August 2001, at Oslo Cathedral, who has since then been given the title Crown Princess. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark was the best man. When the engagement between Crown Prince Haakon and Ms. Høiby was announced, many Norwegians felt that the Crown Prince’s choice of wife was inappropriate. This was primarily about her being a single mother, but information concerning her involvement in the Rave scene in Oslo, which included a significant drug-subculture, also added to the controversy. In addition, the father of her child was convicted of drug-related offences. In a heartfelt press conference before the wedding the Crown Princess explained about her past, saying among other things that her youth revolt might have been stronger than most young people. The issue of Mette-Marit's past has largely been laid to rest in Norwegian public discourse.

Spouse Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway

Issue

Princess Ingrid Alexandra

Prince Sverre Magnus

Royal duties

In addition to his official duties, Haakon has a strong interest in cultural matters.

Beginning Tuesday afternoon 25 November 2003, and ending in the evening of 12 April 2004, Haakon was the country's regent, during the King's treatment for cancer and the subsequent convalescence period. Likewise, Haakon was Norway's regent from 29 March 2005 until the King had fully recovered from the heart surgery he underwent on 1 April. This period ended on 7 June.

In January 2006 Haakon (along with the Norwegian Royal Family) revised his patronage list. He now has twelve patronage roles in his portfolio including the annual Bjørnson literary festival. The patronage roles will last for five years, after which they will be up for renewal and other groups can apply for royal support.

[edit]Humanitarian Fund

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess’ Humanitarian Fund was established in 2001 in connection with the wedding of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. The couple announced that they wished for donations to the fund as wedding gifts. The fund allocates funds to humanitarian projects in Norway and abroad. In Norway the fund mainly focuses on projects aimed at improving conditions for children and young people. Abroad the fund mainly focuses on projects related to health and education.