Historical Background:
For four hundred years, Norway had been ruled as a joint principality with Denmark, and for a brief hundred years, it was in a union with Sweden. In 1905 the union was peacefully dissolved and Norway needed to find a new royal family. The Norwegians invited Denmark’s Prince Carl and his family to become the new Norwegian Royal Family. This is where Princess Märtha Louise’s story begins. And it is a timely tale she tells, for this summer Norway celebrates the 100th anniversary of its independence from Sweden.

Alexander Edward Christian Fredrik was two-years-old in 1905 when he left Denmark with his parents, Prince Carl and Princess Maud, to become the new Norwegian Royal Family. From then on, his father was known as King Haakon VII, his mother became Queen Maud, and little Alexander was given the name Prince Olav. The new Norwegian Royal Family all became avid skiers. Prince Olav became an accomplished ski jumper,even jumping at Holmenkollen, Norway’s most famous ski jump. When King Haakon VII died in 1957, Prince Olav became King Olav V.