Haakon VIII's Real Name: Haakon VIII

Quick answer: Norway's king is known as Haakon VIII. The official biography of the Royal House of Norway says he was born at Oslo University Hospital on 20 July 1973, the son of then Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja, and that he succeeded his father as King of Norway when King Harald V died on 28 August 2026, taking the name Haakon VIII. BBC News independently reports the accession of Haakon VIII on 28 August 2026, after Harald V died that morning (The Royal House of Norway; BBC News).

Real name and early life

He is known as King Haakon VIII. The official biography does not supply a longer private legal form, so this page titles the regnal name. It says he was born on 20 July 1973 at Oslo University Hospital, spent his childhood at Skaugum Estate in Asker with his parents and his older sister, Princess Märtha Louise. Upon the death of King Olav V on 17 January 1991, he became Crown Prince. The official account also records a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of California at Berkeley (1999) and a master's in development studies from the London School of Economics (2003).

Career highlights

The official biography states that King Haakon VIII succeeded his father when King Harald V died on 28 August 2026, and that he adopted the motto "All for Norway." BBC News, in a 28 August 2026 report, independently says the 53-year-old new king held an extraordinary council of state, took on that motto, and acceded after Harald, who had been on the throne for 35 years, died in hospital at 06:35 local time, aged 89. The BBC adds that he was due to take an oath before the Norwegian parliament on the following Tuesday, and that his daughter Ingrid Alexandra, then 22, is next in line as crown princess. The official biography also records his marriage to Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby at Oslo Cathedral on 25 August 2001

Death of King Harald V and the 2026 accession

King Harald V died on 28 August 2026, and Haakon acceded immediately, according to both the official biography and BBC News. The Royal House of Norway says he took his oath to the Constitution in the Storting on 1 September 2026 (The Royal House of Norway).

Name notes for searchers

Haakon VIII is the regnal name recorded by both the Royal House of Norway and BBC News. Searchers looking for the former Crown Prince Haakon, or for Norway's king since 28 August 2026, are usually aiming at the same person.