Crown Prince Haakon’s Day in Norway 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

Crown Prince Haakon’s Day is celebrated annually in Norway on July 20 as a national holiday. It is the birthday of the heir apparent to the Norwegian monarchy, H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon. The Crown Prince’s birth name was Haakon Magnus, but he prefers the name Haakon. He was named after his uncle on his mother’s side, Haakon Haraldsen, and his great-grandfather on his father’s side, King Haakon VII. In 1995, after graduating from the Norwegian Naval Academy, Crown Prince Haakon joined the Royal Norwegian Navy. In 1999, he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. In 2004, the Crown Prince concluded his education at the London School of Economics, after attending lectures at the University of Oslo. He earned a Master of Science in Development Studies with a concentration in internal commerce and Africa.

He has two children with his wife, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. He is also the stepfather of his wife’s son from a previous marriage, Marius Borg Hoiby.

The background of Crown Prince Haakon’s Day

The history of the Norwegian monarchy dates back over a millennium. In the year 885, the first Norwegian monarch, Harald Fairhair, united the numerous Norwegian kingdoms into a single realm. From the reign of Harald Fairhair to the present, Norway has had over sixty named sovereigns. The current monarch is a member of the Glücksburg family, which has governed Norway since 1905.

Despite Norway’s extensive history, the country’s independence is relatively recent. In 1380, Norway and Denmark united under a singular monarchy. Norway, on the other hand, played a minimal role in the union and was increasingly dominated by Denmark.

In 1814, during the Napoleonic Wars, this union with Denmark was severed. For a limited time, Norway regained its independence and drafted a constitution.
However, Norway was forced to join Sweden a few months later. Norway remained an independent nation at this period, despite sharing a monarch and foreign policy with Sweden.

The union between Norway and Sweden was dissolved in 1905. This was due to the fact that Norway had no foreign service missions and was dependent on Sweden for all foreign affairs. This signified Norway’s lesser participation in the union.

The Norwegian national assembly, the Storting, consented to establish a consular service, but King Oscar II refused to grant approval. The Norwegian government resigned as a consequence. Due to the King’s inability to appoint a new government, the union of the two countries under a common monarch was no longer legal. After the union was dissolved, Norway chose King Haakon VII to be its monarch.

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CROWN PRINCE HAAKON’S DAY ACTIVITIES

Send birthday greetings

Why not congratulate the Crown Prince on his birthday? Post your message on your preferred social media platform so that others can learn about it.

Eat some Nordic cuisine

Enjoy some traditional Norwegian treats on this day. Whether you order “rmmegrt” (sour cream porridge), “raspeball” (potato dumplings), or “pinnekjtt” (dried lamb ribs), your taste receptors will be left wanting more.

Journey to Norway

If you can, you should take a vacation in Norway. Numerous natural marvels, such as snow-capped mountain peaks, deep fjords, and the Northern Lights, can be appreciated.

5 FACTS ABOUT NORWAY

In Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago, the polar bear population exceeds the human population.

As the summer solstice approaches in June, the sun does not set in certain locations, such as the northern Norwegian city of Troms.

Sir Nils Olav the King Penguin was knighted in 2008 at the Edinburgh Zoo.

Due to permafrost, corpses must be transported back to the mainland for burial in Svalbard.

Norway has won the most medals at the Winter Olympics than any other nation.

CROWN PRINCE HAAKON’S DAY DATES