Royal Profile: Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway was born 20 July 1973, the only son of then Crown Prince Harald and then Crown Princess Sojna. He has one elder sister, a brother-in-law and three nieces{Source}:

1. Princess Märtha Louise of Norway (1971)
1. Mr. Ari Behn (1972)
1. Maud Angelica Behn (2003)
2. Leah Isadora Behn (2005)
3. Emma Taullah Behn (2008)

The future King of Norway attended the Norwegian Naval Academy, graduating in 1995{Source}.. The Prince also attended University of Califorina, Berkley, where he received a BA in Political Science in 1999{Source}.. After finishing his education, he participated in the UN's General Assembly as a third delegate{Source}.. In 2001, he followed the Foreign Ministry’s trainee programme for diplomats, and completed his education in 2003 at the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he was awarded an MA in development studies, specializing in international trade and Africa{Source}.

He is the patron of a number of organisations, including the Norwegian International Film Festival, the Norwegian Association against Substance Abuse and the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra{Source}..

In 2003, Crown Prince Haakon was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a particular focus on the UN Millennium Development Goals and the effort to cut global poverty in half by 2015{Source}.. In this capacity he has traveled to Tanzania, Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Guatemala, Burundi, Mongolia and Botswana{Source}..

Crown Prince Haakon was an active member of Young Global Leaders (YGL) from its launch in 2005 until autumn 2010, a forum under the auspices of the World Economic Forum{Source}. He chaired the YGL work group for the Global Redesign Initiative since 2009{Source}. The Crown Prince’s term ended in 2010, and he has now become a new member of The Foundation Board of the YGL Community{Source}. In 2006, The Crown Prince founded the Global Dignity initiative with two other YGL members{Source}.

As for his personal life, he married Miss Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in Oslo Cathedral on 25 August 2001{Source}. Mette-Marit has one biological son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, but he spends the majority of his time with the Crown Princely Family, so it's logical that the future king would consider him like a son-he is even listed as a member of the family of the official website of the Royal Family, biography and all {Source} Together, The Crown Prince and Princess have two biological children, and he has a stepson{Source}:

1. Marius Borg Høiby (stepson, 1997)
2. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (2004)
3. Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway (2005)

In what spare time he has, the future King enjoys winter sports, water sports, film, literature and music{Source}. The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have an active family life and spend a great deal of time with their young children enjoying indoor and outdoor recreational activities, including sport and cultural activities {Source}.