Happy 18th Birthday Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway!

His Highness (not HRH because he is not in direct succession to the throne) Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway was born on December 3, 2005, as the second child of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mette-Marit (but her second son and third child). 

But as a second child, despite being the eldest son of the Crown Prince, Sverre Magnus is only third in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne and will serve as his older sister, Princess Ingrid Alexandra's "spare" while she has no children.

Prince Sverre Magnus with his family. Standing at the back: Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra. Seated from left: Queen Sonja, King Harald V of Norway, and the Crown Princess's mother. Photo credit: Norwegian Royal House 

Norway already changed its law of succession to Absolute Primogeniture in 1990, allowing equal rights to daughters. But in the British line of succession where the Norwegian royals have the right to succeed due to their descent through King Edward VII via Queen Maud of Norway, Prince Sverre Magnus is ahead of his older sister. 

Photo credit: Norwegian Royal House

The prince was christened in the Palace Chapel by Bishop Ole Kristian Kvarme on 4 March 2006. His godparents are her paternal grandmother, Queen Sonja, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands who is Queen, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, Princess Rosario of Bulgaria, Mr Espen Høiby, Mr Bjørn Stensland and Ms Marianne Gjellestad.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus, King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja

From 2014 to 2020 The Prince attended Oslo Montessori school. In the autumn of 2021, he started attending Elvebakken Upper Secondary School in Oslo autumn 2021.

Prince Sverre Magnus enjoys skiing and biking - primarily BMX and cross. He shares the joy of water sports, especially surfing, with the rest of his family.

Prince Sverre Magnus and his family. Photo credit: Norwegian Royal House

Unlike the elaborate 18th birthday celebration of his older sister, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, where there was a Birthday Gala Reception attended by foreign royals and dignitaries, Prince Sverre Magnus' 18th birthday was a simple one. 

Royal Order of St. Olav

For the occasion of his 18th birthday, his grandfather, King Harald V, awarded him with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav.

As a gift from his parents, the Prince has received an East Telemark Bunad, a traditional Norwegian costume, which he uses for the first time today during the official lunch at the Castle.

It is the Royal Couple who have been invited to the marking of the Government Day, and on the guest list there are, among other things, family, representatives from the official Norway, youth organizations, and the Prince's fathers. Prince Sverre Magnus is the only grandson of King Harald V and Queen Sonja.