king of Norway from 1991, succeeding his father, Olaf V.

Harald attended the Norwegian Military Academy and Balliol College, Oxford, and attained the rank of captain in three branches of his country's armed forces. Like his father he was a fine athlete and excelled at yachting. His courtship of a commoner, Sonja Haraldsen, caused some controversy, but the couple were married in 1968 with the blessing of King Olaf and of Norway's constitutional authorities. Harald and Sonja had two children, Märtha Louise and Haakon Magnus. Harald became king of Norway upon the death of his father on Jan. 17, 1991. Like other Scandinavian monarchs, his duties were largely ceremonial.