Line of succession to the Norwegian Throne
Encyclopedia
Since 1990, absolute primogeniture
has been applied in Norway. Crown Prince Haakon Magnus
is currently the heir apparent
.
was altered, granting absolute primogeniture
to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession. Since this was not done retroactively, the first member of the royal family it applies to is Princess Ingrid Alexandra
. This means that she takes precedence over her younger brother Prince Sverre Magnus
, but her father Haakon
continues to take precedence over his older sister, Princess Märtha Louise
.
The order of succession to the Norwegian
throne is described in article 6 in the Constitution of Norway:
Article 6 of the original constitution had specified salic
(male-only) succession; so Harald's sisters Ragnhild (b. 1930) and Astrid (b. 1932) and their descendants are excluded from the line of succession. Under the male-preference primogeniture
applying to those born between 1971 and 1990, Princess Märtha Louise (b. 1971) places behind her younger brother Haakon and his descendants.
(b. 1937)
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
has been applied in Norway. Crown Prince Haakon Magnus
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway 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...
is currently the heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
.
Law of succession
In 1990 the Norwegian constitutionConstitution of Norway
The Constitution of Norway was first adopted on May 16, 1814 by the Norwegian Constituent Assembly at Eidsvoll , then signed and dated May 17...
was altered, granting absolute primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
to the Norwegian throne, meaning that the eldest child, regardless of gender, takes precedence in the line of succession. Since this was not done retroactively, the first member of the royal family it applies to is Princess Ingrid Alexandra
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and second in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.-Biography:...
. This means that she takes precedence over her younger brother Prince Sverre Magnus
Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway
Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway is the second child of Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway. Prince Sverre Magnus is a grandchild of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway...
, but her father Haakon
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway 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...
continues to take precedence over his older sister, Princess Märtha Louise
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway is the only daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is fourth in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, after her brother and his two children.-Early life:...
.
The order of succession to the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
throne is described in article 6 in the Constitution of Norway:
- The order of succession is lineal, so that only a child born in lawful wedlock of the Queen or King, or of one who is herself or himself entitled to the succession may succeed, and so that the nearest line shall take precedence over the more remote and the elder in the line over the younger.
- An unborn child shall also be included among those entitled to the succession and shall immediately take her or his proper place in the line of succession as soon as she or he is born into the world.
- The right of succession shall not, however, belong to any person who is not born in the direct line of descent from the last reigning Queen or King or a sister or brother thereof, or is herself or himself a sister or brother thereof.
- [...]
- For those born before the year 1971, Article 6 of the Constitution as it was passed on 18 November 1905 shall, however, apply. For those born before the year 1990 it shall nevertheless be the case that a male shall take precedence over a female.
Article 6 of the original constitution had specified salic
Salic law
Salic law was a body of traditional law codified for governing the Salian Franks in the early Middle Ages during the reign of King Clovis I in the 6th century...
(male-only) succession; so Harald's sisters Ragnhild (b. 1930) and Astrid (b. 1932) and their descendants are excluded from the line of succession. Under the male-preference primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
applying to those born between 1971 and 1990, Princess Märtha Louise (b. 1971) places behind her younger brother Haakon and his descendants.
Current line of succession
Current King: Harald VHarald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
(b. 1937)
- HRH Crown Prince Haakon MagnusHaakon, Crown Prince of NorwayHaakon, Crown Prince of Norway 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...
, King Harald's son (b. 1973) - HRH Princess Ingrid AlexandraPrincess Ingrid Alexandra of NorwayPrincess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and second in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.-Biography:...
, Crown Prince Haakon's and Crown Princess Mette-Marit's daughter (b. 2004) - HH Prince Sverre MagnusPrince Sverre Magnus of NorwayPrince Sverre Magnus of Norway is the second child of Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway. Prince Sverre Magnus is a grandchild of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway...
, The Crown Prince and Crown Princess's son (b. 2005) - HH Princess Märtha LouisePrincess Märtha Louise of NorwayPrincess Märtha Louise of Norway is the only daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is fourth in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, after her brother and his two children.-Early life:...
, King Harald's daughter (b. 1971) - Maud Angelica BehnMaud Angelica BehnMaud Angelica Behn is the first-born child of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn , and the eldest grandchild of King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja of Norway...
, Princess Märtha Louise's daughter (b. 2003) - Leah Isadora BehnLeah Isadora BehnLeah Isadora Behn is the second daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn. She was born at the princess's summer residence Bloksbjerg at Hankø island, in the municipality of Fredrikstad....
, Princess Märtha Louise's second daughter (b. 2005) - Emma Tallulah BehnEmma Tallulah BehnEmma Tallulah Behn is the third daughter of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and husband Ari Behn. She was born in their home in Lommedalen outside of the capital of Oslo at 12.53, weighing 3700 grams and measuring 53 cm...
, Princess Märtha Louise's third daughter (b. 2008)