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Issue 22nd April 2022 Royal Anniversaries

2022 offers no less than four royal birthdays. Princess Ingrid Alexandra turned 18 in January, King Harald turned 85 in February, and later this year we can celebrate Queen Sonja’s 85th birthday and King Haakon VII’s 150th birthday.

King Haakon VII was born in Denmark on 3 August 1872 and was christened Christian Frederik Carl Georg Valdemar Axel. In 1896, he married Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Princess of Great Britain and Ireland. In 1905, Prince Carl was elected King of Norway. He took the name Haakon VII upon his accession and gave his son, Prince Alexander, the name Olav. Norway was invaded by German troops in 1940 and, after a daring escape, the King continued the resistance from London until he was able to return to a liberated Norway in 1945. After a period of failing health, King Haakon passed away on 1 September 1957.

2075
NK 2075 King Haakon VII

When Prince Harald was born on 21 February 1937, it was the first time in 567 years that a prince had been born in Norway. He became King of Norway upon the death of King Olav V on 17 January 1991. Today, the King’s duties are largely representative and ceremonial. King Harald meets with the Council of State at the Royal Palace every Friday and formally opens the Norwegian parliament every autumn. The King enjoys the great outdoors and is interested in sports. A keen yachtsman, he has competed successfully in national and international sailing events. King Harald is Patron of Norwegian sports.

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NK 2073 King Harald V

Queen Sonja was born Sonja Haraldsen on 4 July 1937 in Oslo. She first met the then Crown Prince Harald in 1959. They married on 29 August 1968, and Sonja became the Crown Princess of Norway. Queen Sonja has a strong sense of social engagement and has served as Vice President of the Norwegian Red Cross. She has a great interest in art and has herself created graphic and ceramic works in recent years and participated in a number of exhibitions in Norway and abroad. In 1988, she established the Queen Sonja International Music Competition.

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NK 2074 Queen Sonja

Princess Ingrid Alexandra was born on 21 January 2004. In accordance with the Constitution, she will become Queen of Norway one day. She will then also be the first ever Norwegian-born queen regnant. The princess has an active life and enjoys skiing, kickboxing, surfing and water sports. Princess Ingrid Alexandra will take on more public duties on behalf of the Norwegian Royal Family upon reaching the age of majority.

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NK 2076 Princess Ingrid Alexandra


 

Facts

  • NK 2073-2076
  • Motifs: King Harald V, Queen Sonja, King Haakon VII, Princess Ingrid Alexandra
  • Illustrations: Trond Bredesen
  • Design: Camilla Kvien Jensen
  • Denominations: NOK 19 (Domestic 20 g) x 2, NOK 25 (Domestic 50 g) x 2
  • Issued in: Two rolls of 100 stamps, one of each value
  • Print run: Domestic 20 g: 2.532.500 of each stamp
                     Domestic 50 g: 1.032.500 of each stamp
  • Print: Offset from Joh. Enschedé Security Print, The Netherlands
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