Olaf V

Olaf V (1903-1991), king of Norway from 1957 to 1991. The son of King Håkon VII, Olaf was born at Sandringham House in Norfolk, England. His original name at birth was Alexander Edward Christian Frederik of Glücksburg.

After the union of Norway and Sweden was dissolved in 1905, Olaf moved to Norway with his father, who had accepted the Norwegian crown. From an early age Olaf was educated with a view toward his becoming king. At the age of 18 he began attending meetings of the Council of State (cabinet) and performing ceremonial duties. He attended the University of Oslo and the Norwegian Military Academy and then studied at Balliol College, a part of the University of Oxford in England. In 1929 Olaf married Princess Märtha Louise of Sweden. The couple had one son, Harald, and two daughters, Ragnhild and Astrid.

Olaf went to the United Kingdom with his father after Germany’s invasion of Norway in 1940, during World War II. While there, Olaf worked to build a fighting force of free Norwegians. In 1944 Olaf became commander in chief of the Norwegian armed forces. In May 1945, after Germany’s surrender, Olaf was the first member of the royal family to return to Norway. Olaf succeeded to the throne as Olaf V when his father died in 1957.

Olaf was an exceptionally popular figure in Norway, earning much goodwill for his common touch and personal connection to his subjects. An avid skier and sailor, Olaf won a gold medal in sailing at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Olaf’s death in 1991 was widely mourned across Norway. Olaf was succeeded by his son, who became king of Norway as Harald V.