Happy Birthday to King Harald V of Norway, who turns 88 today! King Harald V is the Grand Master of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav, the highest Norwegian Order of Chivalry awarded to Norwegian Citizens, Foreign Royalty and Heads of State!
The Order of Saint Olav, Norway’s highest decoration, was founded by King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway in 1847 and named after King Olav II, who was canonised as Saint Olav.
The King is the Grand Master of the Order and in addition to Foreign Royalty and Heads of State, the Order of St. Olav is only bestowed on between 15 and 20 people Norwegian nationals each year as “a reward for distinguished services rendered to Norway and mankind”. The Order is divided into five classes:
- Grand Cross
- Grand Officer
- Commander
- Officer
- Knight
The Insignia of the Order is a white-enamelled Maltese cross made of gold. In its centre is a crimson medallion encircled by a blue and white ring. The obverse of the medallion bears the Norwegian lion in gold, and on the reverse is the motto of King Oscar I “Ret og Sanhed”, meaning “Justice and Truth”. In the four corners between the arms of the cross is a Gothic O of gold surmounted by a crown. The cross on the Commander and Officer insignia bears a king’s crown of gold.
The Insignia is attached to a crimson ribbon with blue and double-edged white borders. The Knight’s Cross is worn on the left breast, and the Commander’s Cross is suspended from a ribbon around the neck. The Grand Cross is attached to a broad sash worn passing from the right shoulder to the left side. Women wear the Knight’s Cross and Commander’s Cross on the left breast attached to a bow made from the Knight’s Cross ribbon.
The Collar of the Order, which represents the order’s highest class, may also be conferred by the King on holders of the Grand Cross, limited to members of the Norwegian Royal Family and some Foreign Sovereigns, but is only ever really worn for the Norwegian Opening of Parliament.
(1955)
(1972)
(1991)
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
(2001)
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
(2022)
Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway
(2023)
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
(1989)
(1956)
(1990)
(2005)
Crown Prince Christian of Denmark
(2023)
(1958)
(1991)
(2014)
(1974)
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
(1974)
(1982)
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
(1995)
(2022)
(2005)
(2005)
Princess Christina, Mrs Magnuson
(1992)
(1978)
(1951)
Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh
(1951)
(1988-2026)
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
(1973)
(2003)
(2003)
(1964)
(1997)
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
(1996)
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
(1996)
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
(1996)
Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
(2013)
Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands
(1964)
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands
(1964)
(1995)
(1982)
(1982)
(1984)
(1995)
(2001)
(2001)
(1953)
(2001)
(2000)
(2000)
Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan
(2020)
(1964)
(1965)
