View source for Olav V

{{Short description|King of Norway from 1957 to 1991}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Olav V
| image        = Olav V of Norway.jpg
| caption      = Official portrait
| succession   = [[King of Norway]]
| reign        = 21 September 1957 – {{nowrap|17 January 1991}}
| coronation   = 22 June 1958
| cor-type     = [[Benediction]]{{efn|name=note|Coronation discarded by [[Constitution of Norway|constitutional]] amendment in 1908. Olav V instead received benediction in [[Nidaros Cathedral]].}}
| predecessor  = [[Haakon VII]]
| successor    = [[Harald V]]
| regent       = Harald ({{abbr|1990|1 June 1990}}–{{abbr|1991|17 January 1991}})
| succession1  = [[List of regents#Norway|Regent of Norway]]
| reign1       = 1 July 1955 – 21 September 1957
| reign-type1  = Regency
| regent1      = Haakon VII
| reg-type1    = Monarch
| spouse       = {{marriage|[[Märtha of Sweden]]|1929|1954|reason=died}}
| issue        = {{plainlist|
* [[Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen]]
* [[Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner]]
* [[Harald V|Harald V, King of Norway]]
}}
| house        = [[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]]
| father       = [[Haakon VII|Haakon VII of Norway]]
| mother       = [[Maud of Wales]]
| birth_name   = Prince Alexander Edward Christian Frederik of Denmark
| birth_date   = {{birth date|df=yes|1903|7|2}}
| birth_place  = [[Appleton House, Sandringham]], England
| death_date   = {{death date and age|df=yes|1991|1|17|1903|7|2}}
| death_place  = [[The Royal Lodge, Holmenkollen]], Oslo, Norway
| date of burial = 30 January 1991
| place of burial = [[Akershus Castle]], Oslo
| religion     = [[Church of Norway]]
| signature    = Olav V signature.svg
| module       = {{infobox sportsperson | embed=yes
| medaltemplates  = 
{{MedalSport | [[Sailing (sport)|Sailing]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{Flagu|Norway}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Sailing at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalGold | [[1928 Summer Olympics|1928 Amsterdam]] | [[Sailing at the 1928 Summer Olympics – 6 Metre|6 m mixed]] }}
{{Medal|Competition | [[5.5 Metre World Championship]] }}
{{Medal|Bronze | 1971 Seawanhaka | 5.5m }}
{{Medal|Bronze | 1976 Hankø | 5.5m }}
}}
}}

'''Olav V''' ({{langx|no|Olav den femte}}, {{IPA|no|ˈûːlɑːv dɛn ˈfɛ̂mtə}};<ref>{{cite book|last=Berulfsen|first=Bjarne|title=Norsk Uttaleordbok|language=no|year=1969|publisher=[[Aschehoug|H. Aschehoug & Co (W Nygaard)]]|location=Oslo|pages=64, 91, 232}}</ref> born '''Prince Alexander of Denmark'''; 2 July 1903 – 17 January 1991) was [[King of Norway]] from 1957 until his death in 1991.

Olav was born at [[Sandringham House]] in England, the only child of [[Prince Carl of Denmark]] and [[Princess Maud of Wales]]. He became [[heir apparent]] to the Norwegian throne when his father was elected [[King Haakon VII of Norway]] in 1905. He was the first heir to the Norwegian throne to be brought up in Norway since [[Olav IV]] in the 14th century, and his parents made sure that he was given as Norwegian an upbringing as possible. In preparation for his future role, he attended both civilian and military schools. In 1929, he married his first cousin, [[Princess Märtha of Sweden]]. During [[World War II]], his leadership was much appreciated, and he was appointed [[Chief of Defence of Norway|Norwegian Chief of Defence]] in 1944. Olav became king following the death of his father in 1957.

His considerate, down-to-earth style made Olav immensely popular, resulting in the nickname {{lang|no|Folkekongen}} ('The People's King'). In a 2005 poll by the [[NRK|Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]], Olav was voted "[[Norwegian of the Century]]".<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/kongelige/article1181274.ece |title=Folkekongen ble århundrets nordmann |work=[[Aftenposten]] |date=17 December 2005 |access-date=14 July 2011 |language=no}}</ref>

==Birth and early life==
[[File:Den norske kongefamilie, 1921 (6812749750).jpg|left|thumb|214x214px|The Norwegian royal family in 1921]]

Olav was born on 2 July 1903<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 December 2017 |title=Notice de personne: Olav V (1903-1991 ; roi de Norvège) |url=https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb11557714h |access-date=6 September 2025 |website=Bibliothèque Nationale de France |language=fr}}</ref> as Prince Alexander Edward Christian Frederik in [[Appleton House, Sandringham|Appleton House]] on the royal [[Sandringham House|Sandringham Estate]], [[Flitcham, Norfolk|Flitcham]], United Kingdom.<ref name=san28oct>{{cite news |last=Sandelson |first=Michael |title=Norway's Queen Maud in euthanasia speculations |url=http://theforeigner.no/pages/news/norways-queen-maud-in-euthanasia-speculations/ |access-date=9 July 2013 |newspaper=The Foreigner |date=28 October 2011}}</ref> His parents were [[Haakon VII|Prince Carl]], second son of [[Frederick VIII of Denmark|Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark (later King Frederick VIII)]], and [[Maud, Queen of Norway|Princess Maud]], youngest daughter of [[Edward VII|King Edward VII of the United Kingdom]], who was the eldest son of Britain's [[Queen Victoria]]. In 1905, Carl was elected as Norway's first independent king in 518 years. The fact that Carl already had a son gave him an advantage over the other candidates, as it assured the continuance of the new royal line.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Berg|first1=Roald|title=Norge på egen hånd 1905–1920 (Norsk utenrikspolitikks historie, volume 2)|date=1995|publisher=Universitetsforlaget|location=Oslo|isbn=8200223949|page=309|language=no}}</ref> When Carl accepted his election, he took the name Haakon VII. The king gave his two-year-old son the Norwegian name Olav after [[Olaf II of Denmark|Olav Haakonsson]],  the last independent king of Norway before its [[Denmark–Norway|union with Denmark]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Olav to Martha |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,732173,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210230221/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,732173,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 February 2009 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time Magazine]] |date=21 January 1929 |access-date=17 January 2009}}</ref> It was also chosen in honour of [[Olaf II of Norway|Saint Olaf]], the first effective king of Norway and a symbol of Norwegian independence and pride. <ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zm9mAAAAMAAJ&q=olav+v+renamed+1905+saint | title=The Times Obituaries ... , Lives Remembered | date=1991 | publisher=Blewbury Press | isbn=978-0-9518282-0-5 }}</ref>

Olav was thus the first heir to the throne since the [[Middle Ages]] to have been raised in Norway, and his parents went to considerable length to give him as Norwegian an upbringing as possible. Unlike his father, who was a naval officer, Olav chose to complete his main military education in the army. He graduated from the three-year [[Norwegian Military Academy]] in 1924, with the fourth-best score in his class. Olav then studied jurisprudence and economics for two years at [[Balliol College, Oxford]].{{sfn|Benkow|1991|pp=97-108}}

During the 1930s, Crown Prince Olav was a naval cadet serving on the minelayer/cadet training ship ''[[HNoMS Olav Tryggvason|Olav Tryggvason]]''.{{sfn|Bratli|Schau|1995|p=93}} Olav moved up the ranks of the Norwegian armed forces in the army from an initial rank of first lieutenant to captain in 1931 and colonel in 1936.{{sfn|Dahl|1982|p=48}}

He was an accomplished athlete. Olav jumped from the [[Holmenkollen ski jump]] in Oslo and competed in sailing regattas. He won a gold medal in sailing at the [[1928 Summer Olympics]]{{sfn|Flint|1991}} in [[Amsterdam]] and remained an active sailor into old age.

On 21 March 1929 in Oslo, he married his first cousin [[Princess Märtha of Sweden]] with whom he had two daughters, [[Princess Ragnhild of Norway|Ragnhild]] and [[Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner|Astrid]], and one son, [[Harald V of Norway|Harald]]. As exiles during [[World War II]], Crown Princess Märtha and the royal children lived in [[Washington, DC]], where she struck up a close friendship with [[Franklin Roosevelt]]. She died in 1954, before her husband ascended the throne.

The British Film Institute houses an early film, made in 1913, in which a miniature car (a "baby Cadillac") commissioned by Queen Alexandra for Crown Prince Olav tows a procession of Londoners through the streets of the capital, before being delivered to a pair of "royal testers" of roughly Olav's age.<ref>{{cite AV media |people=F.S. Bennett (Director) |date=1913 |title=The Smallest Car in the Largest City in the World |medium=motion picture |language=en |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rMgxEN3Kfg | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211107/-rMgxEN3Kfg| archive-date=2021-11-07 | url-status=live|access-date= 15 May 2017 |location=London, England |publisher=British Film Institute |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The car is a battery-powered, one-third size replica on a four-foot wheelbase, and is on permanent loan to the [[Norsk Teknisk Museum]] in Oslo.<ref>{{cite news |author=Morton, Ian |title=Right Royal Fun in a Baby Cadillac |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2724262/Right-royal-fun-in-a-Baby-Cadillac.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2724262/Right-royal-fun-in-a-Baby-Cadillac.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=30 August 2003 |access-date=15 May 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==World War II==
[[File:Ole Friele Backer kongen kronprinsen.jpg|left|thumb|214x214px|King Haakon VII, Crown Prince Olav, and [[Hans Reidar Holtermann]] in [[Scotland]] during World War II]]

As Crown Prince, Olav had received extensive military training and had participated in most major Norwegian military exercises. That made him perhaps one of the most knowledgeable Norwegian military leaders,{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} and he was respected by other Allied leaders for his knowledge and leadership skills. During a visit to the United States before the war, he and his wife had established a close relationship with President Roosevelt. Those factors would prove to be important for the Norwegian fight against the [[Norwegian campaign|attacking German forces]]. In 1939, Crown Prince Olav was appointed an admiral of the [[Royal Norwegian Navy]] and a general of the [[Norwegian Army]].{{sfn|Dahl|1982|p=48}}

During [[World War II]], Olav stood by his father's side in resisting the [[German occupation of Norway]]. During the campaign he was a valuable advisor both to civilian and military leaders. When the Norwegian government decided to go into exile, he offered to stay behind with the Norwegian people, but that was declined. He reluctantly followed his father to the [[United Kingdom]], where he and his staff and servants and aides continued to be a key advisor to the government-in-exile and his father. One source states that Olav helped "to build and lead a free fighting force" and made radio broadcasts in England.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://interactive.wttw.com/playlist/2021/04/06/real-historical-people-new-drama-atlantic-crossing
|title=The Real Historical People of the New Drama 'Atlantic Crossing'|website=WTTW, PBS |date=6 April 2021|access-date=13 April 2021 |quote=}}</ref> 

[[File:The Norwegian Government in Exile during the Second World War A4132.jpg|thumb|Olav inspecting Norwegian sailors in the United Kingdom]]

Olav made several visits to Norwegian and Allied troops in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. In 1944, he was appointed to the post of [[Chief of Defence (Norway)|Norwegian Chief of Defence]] and after the war he led the Norwegian disarmament of [[German occupation of Norway|the German occupying forces]]. On 13 May 1945, Crown Prince Olav and five government ministers returned to a liberated Norway. The arrival was documented in a newsreel by British [[Pathé News]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.britishpathe.com/video/VLVA6FHPZFLDVXN3S6VFINJEM3RPV-OLAV-V-ARRIVES-IN-NORWAY/query/Olav
|title=Olav V Arrives In Norway 1945|website=British Pathé |access-date=12 April 2021 |quote=}}</ref>

His war decorations from other nations, including the [[War Cross (Norway)|War Crosses]] of Norway, France, Greece and the Netherlands; the US [[Legion of Merit]]; and the French [[Médaille Militaire]], are testament to the international recognition of his contribution to [[World War II|the war]] against [[Nazi Germany]]. 

[[File:Kronprinsfamilien_samlet_utenfor_Pook's_Hill_-_pa1209_Uj_L0219a_W974.jpg|alt=|thumb|Crown Prince Olav and [[Princess Märtha of Sweden|Crown Princess Märtha]] with their children Princess Astrid, Princess Ragnhild and Prince Harald at their exile home, ''Pook's Hill'', in [[Bethesda, Maryland]] ]]
{{House of Oldenburg (Glucksburg-Norway)}}

==Reign==
[[File:Olav V Holmenkollbakken OB.A8587.jpg|thumb|224x224px|King Olav V at [[Holmenkollen National Arena|Holmenkollen]] in 1975]]

Haakon was injured in an accident in 1955; his son Olav served as regent until his death.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Olav-V#ref59809|title=Olav V king of Norway|website=Britannica|access-date=13 April 2021 |quote=}}</ref> Haakon died at the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] in Oslo on 21 September 1957. He was 85 years old. After his death, Olav succeeded him as Olav V. 

Olav reigned as a "People's King," and became extremely popular, despite the fact that he had no [[queen consort]] (his wife, [[Princess Märtha of Sweden|Märtha of Sweden]], died in 1954). He liked to drive his own cars and would drive in the public lane even though, as king, he was allowed to drive in bus lanes. When driving was restricted during the [[1973 energy crisis]], King Olav wanted to lead by example even though he would have been well within his rights to drive. While going on a skiing trip, he dressed up in his skiing outfit and boarded the [[Holmenkollbanen]] [[suburban railway]] carrying his skis on his shoulder.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nrk.no/underholdning/store_norske/4356194.html |website= NRK |lang=no |access-date=24 November 2006 |title=Kong Olav 5 |first1=Ragnhild |last1=Sleire Øyen |date=December 30, 2004 }}</ref> When later asked how he dared to go out in public without bodyguards, he replied that "he had 4 million bodyguards", the population of Norway at the time.

For his athletic ability and role as King, Olav earned the [[Holmenkollen medal]] in 1968, the [[Medal for Outstanding Civic Achievement]] in 1970 and was made [[Name of the Year]] in 1975. He had a strong interest in military matters and took his role as titular Commander-in-Chief very seriously. As well as his ceremonial roles in the Norwegian Army, he also served as [[Colonel-in-Chief]] of the [[Green Howards|Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Yorkshire Regiment)]], the British regiment named for his grandmother [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]].

The King represented Norway extensively abroad during his reign, conducting [[List of state visits made by Olav V of Norway|state visits]] to both neighbouring countries and more distant destinations such as [[Ethiopia]] and [[Iran]]. King Olav V opened the [[14th World Scout Jamboree]] in July 1975 in the presence of 17,259 Scouts from 94 countries.

Although the constitution nominally vested Olav with executive power, he was not responsible for exercising it. In practice, his role was almost entirely ceremonial and representative.<ref name="britannica"/> This not only followed practices dating from the definitive establishment of parliamentary rule in Norway in 1884, but also precedent set by his father. His acts were not valid without the countersignature of a minister–usually the [[Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister]]–who then became politically responsible for the act in question. While he had the right to appoint the government, in practice it was impossible for him to appoint a government solely of his choosing or keep it in office against the will of the [[Storting]]. Nonetheless, like his father before him, he commanded great [[moral authority]] as a symbol of the nation's unity.

==Illness and death==
During the summer of 1990, the King suffered from health problems, but recovered somewhat during Christmas the same year. At the age of 87, on 17 January 1991, while residing in the Royal Lodge [[Kongsseteren]] in [[Oslo]], he became ill and died in the evening of a [[heart attack]]. An interview given by King [[Harald V of Norway|Harald V]] and hints in a biography by [[Jo Benkow]], who was the [[President of the Storting]] at that time, mention the possibility that King Olav suffered great [[Psychological trauma|trauma]] upon learning of the outbreak of the first [[Gulf War]],{{cn|date=February 2024}} which began on the day he died. Olav's son succeeded him as [[List of Norwegian monarchs|King Harald V]].

On the night of his death and for several days up until the state funeral, Norwegians mourned publicly, lighting hundreds of thousands of candles in the [[Slottsplassen|courtyard outside]] the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] in Oslo, with letters and cards placed amongst them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/nyhet.html?tid=131423&sek=26939|title=Tronskiftet 1991|website=www.kongehuset.no|language=no|access-date=2018-04-13}}</ref> The National Archives have preserved all these cards.

=== Funeral ===
The state funeral of King Olav V was held on 30 January 1991. During the funeral procession from the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] to [[Oslo Cathedral]], more than 100,000 people lined up along [[Karl Johans gate]] to pay their respects.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.tv2.no/a/7933387/|title=I dag er det 25 år siden kong Olav døde|last=AS|first=TV 2|work=TV 2|access-date=2018-04-13|language=no-nb}}</ref> Prime Minister [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] gave the eulogy at the funeral, before the casket was moved to [[Akershus Fortress]] where a private service was held.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/innenriks/gro---jeg-hadde-et-nrt-forhold-til-kong-olav/3423180430.html|title=Gro: - Jeg hadde et nært forhold til kong Olav|last=Berge|first=Jørgen|work=Nettavisen|access-date=2018-04-13|language=no}}</ref>

Olav was finally laid to rest next to his wife [[Princess Märtha of Sweden|Märtha]] in the green sarcophagus of the [[Royal Mausoleum (Norway)|Royal Mausoleum]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://norwegianhistory.no/the-secret-journey-of-queen-mauds-coffin/|title=The secret journey of Queen Maud's coffin {{!}} norwegianhistory.no|last=Dahlmann|first=L. A.|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124430/https://norwegianhistory.no/the-secret-journey-of-queen-mauds-coffin/|archive-date=9 February 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Legacy ==
King Olav's leadership during the [[World War II|Second World War]] made him a symbol of Norwegian independence and national unity. As King Olav's wife, [[Princess Märtha of Sweden|Princess Märtha]], died of cancer, the [[King Olav V's Prize for Cancer Research]] was established in 1992.

A 2005 poll by the [[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]] named King Olav "[[Norwegian of the Century]]".<ref name=":0" />

=== In popular culture ===
Viktor Andersen portrayed the two-year-old Prince Alexander (Olav) in the 2009 [[NRK]] drama series ''[[Harry & Charles]].'' Actor [[Anders Baasmo Christiansen]] was chosen to portray Crown Prince Olav in the 2016 drama ''[[The King's Choice]]'' while [[Tobias Santelmann]] portrayed Olav in the 2021 NRK drama ''[[Atlantic Crossing (TV series)|Atlantic Crossing]]''. In the period drama ''The Commoner'', premiered in 2025 on [[Amazon Prime Video]], [[Anders Baasmo Christiansen]] is again portraying Olav V, this time during his reign as [[Monarchy of Norway|King of Norway]].

==Honours==
===National honours and medals===
* {{flag|Norway}}:
**[[File:Krigskorset med sverd stripe.svg|70px]] Recipient of the [[War Cross (Norway)|War Cross]]
**[[File:Borgerdådsmedaljen stripe.svg|70px]] Recipient of the [[Medal for Outstanding Civic Achievement]] in gold
**[[File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg|70px]] [[Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav|Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav]] (18 November 1905);<ref>{{citation|title=Norges Statskalender|language=Norwegian|year=1922|page=1171-1172|chapter-url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951001416649n&view=1up&seq=634&skin=2021|chapter=Den kongelige norske Sanct Olavs Orden|access-date=19 September 2021|via=hathitrust.org}}</ref> Grand Master (21 September 1957)
**[[File:Den kongelige norske fortjenstorden storkors stripe.svg|70px]] Founder of the [[Royal Norwegian Order of Merit]] (1985)
**[[File:St. Olavs Orden stripe.svg|70px]] Recipient of the [[St Olav's medal]]
**[[File:Kroningsmedaljen 1906 rib.png|70px]] Recipient of the Haakon VII Coronation Medal
**[[File:Krigsmedaljen stripe.svg|70px]] Recipient of the [[War Medal (Norway)|War Medal]]
**[[File:Haakon VIIs 70-årsmedalje stripe.svg|70px]] Recipient of the [[Haakon VII 70th Anniversary Medal]]
**[[File:Haakon VIIs jubileumsmedalje 1905-1955 stripe.svg|70px]] Recipient of the [[King Haakon VII 1905–1955 Jubilee Medal]]

===Foreign honours===
* {{flag|Argentina}}: Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the Liberator General San Martin]]
* {{flag|Austria}}: Grand Star of the [[Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria]]
* {{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]]
* {{flag|Brazil|1870}}: Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the Rose]]
* {{flag|Chile}}: Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the Merit of Chile]]
* {{flag|Denmark}}:
** Knight of the [[Order of the Elephant|Elephant]] (13 August 1921)<ref name="DanskStatskalender">{{cite book |year=1963 |orig-year=1st pub.:1801 |editor1-last=Bille-Hansen |editor1-first=A. C. |editor2-last=Holck |editor2-first=Harald |title=Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1963 |trans-title=State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1963 |url=https://dis-danmark.dk/bibliotek/918015.pdf#page=61 |format=PDF |series=Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender |language=da |location=Copenhagen |publisher=J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri |pages=18, 20 |access-date=7 July 2020 |via=[[:da:DIS Danmark]]}}</ref>
** [[Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog]] (13 August 1921)<ref name="DanskStatskalender"/>
** Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Dannebrog]] (11 September 1958)<ref name="DanskStatskalender"/>
** Recipient of the [[King Christian X's Liberty Medal]]<ref name="DanskStatskalender"/>
** Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Denmark|Commemorative Medal for King Christian IX's 100th birthday]]<ref name="DanskStatskalender"/>
** Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Denmark|Commemorative Medal for King Frederik VIII's 100th birthday]]<ref name="DanskStatskalender"/>
* {{flag|Ethiopia|1897}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Solomon]]
* {{flag|Finland}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the White Rose]]
* {{flag|France}}: 
** Grand Cross of the [[Legion of Honour|Order of Legion of Honour]]
** Recipient of the [[Croix de guerre 1939–1945|Croix de guerre]]
** Recipient of the [[Médaille militaire]]
* {{flag|Germany}}: Grand Cross Special Class of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
* {{flag|Greece|royal}}:
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Redeemer]]
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of St. George and St. Constantine]]
** Recipient of the [[War Cross (Greece)|War Cross]]
** Recipient of the Commemorative Badge of the Centenary of the Royal House of Greece
* {{flag|Iceland}}:
** Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the Falcon]] (1961)
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Falcon]] (1955)
* {{flag|Iran|1964}}:
** Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Pahlavi]]
** Commemorative Medal of the [[2,500 year celebration of the Persian Empire|2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire]] (14/10/1971).<ref>[http://badraie.com/guests.htm Badraie] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305043732/http://badraie.com/guests.htm |date=5 March 2016 }}</ref>
* {{flag|Italy}}: Knight Grand cross with Collar of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] (1965)
* {{flag|Japan}}: Collar of the [[Order of the Chrysanthemum]]
* {{flag|Luxembourg}}: Knight of the [[Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau]]
* {{flag|Mexico}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Aztec Eagle]]
* {{flag|Netherlands}}:
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
** Grand Cross of the [[Order of the House of Orange]]
** Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the Netherlands|War Cross]]
** Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the Netherlands|Queen Juliana Juliana Inauguration Medal]] (1948)
* {{flag|Peru}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Sun (Peru)|Order of the Sun]]
* {{flag|Portugal}}:
** Grand Cross of the Military [[Order of Aviz]]
** Grand Collar of the [[Order of Saint James of the Sword]]
* {{flag|Romania|1952}}: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Star of Romania|Order of the Star]]
* {{flag|Saxony}}: Grand Cross of the [[Saxe-Ernestine House Order|Ernestine Order]] (Saxony, Germany)
* {{flag|Spain}}:
** Knight of the [[Order of the Golden Fleece]]
** Collar of the [[Order of Charles III]]
* {{flag|Sweden}}:
** Knight of the [[Royal Order of the Seraphim]] (1 November 1926)<ref>{{citation|title=Sveriges Statskalender|year=1931|volume=2|url=https://runeberg.org/statskal/1931bih/0007.html|via=runeberg.org|access-date=2018-01-06|language=sv|page=7}}</ref>
** Recipient of the [[Swedish Royal Jubilee Commemorative Medals|70th Birthday Medal of King Gustaf V]] (1928)
** Recipient of the [[Swedish Royal Jubilee Commemorative Medals|90th Birthday Medal of King Gustaf V]] (1948) King Gustaf V's 90th Anniversary Medal
* {{flag|Thailand}}:
** Knight of the Most Illustrious [[Order of the Royal House of Chakri]] (19 September 1960)<ref>{{cite journal |author=Royal Thai Government Gazette |author-link=Royal Thai Government Gazette |date=28 December 1964 |title=แจ้งความสำนักนายกรัฐมนตรี เรื่อง ถวายเครื่องขัตติยราชอิสริยาภรณ์มหาจักรีบรมราชวงศ์ แด่พระมหากษัตริย์แห่งประเทศนอรเว |url=http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2508/D/113/3335.PDF |url-status=dead |journal=[[Royal Gazette (Thailand)]] |language=th |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508145658/http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2508/D/113/3335.PDF |archive-date=8 May 2019 |access-date=2019-05-08}}</ref>
** Knight Grand Cordon (Special Class) of the Most Illustrious [[Order of Chula Chom Klao]]
* {{flag|Tunisia|1959}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Independence
* {{flag|Vatican City}}: Collar of the [[Order of Pope Pius IX]] (1967)
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}:
** Stranger Knight Companion of the Most Noble [[Order of the Garter]] (29 May 1959)<ref>[https://www.heraldica.org/topics/orders/garterlist.htm List of Knights of the Garter – 1348 to present] – via heraldica.org.</ref>
** Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble [[Order of the Thistle]]<ref>{{cite news |title=People |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874532,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210231026/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,874532,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 February 2009 |work=Time Magazine |page=1 |date=26 October 1962 |access-date=17 January 2009}}</ref>
** Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable [[Order of the Bath]]
** Recipient of the [[Royal Victorian Chain]]
** Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the [[Royal Victorian Order]]
** Recipient of the [[King George V Silver Jubilee Medal]]
** Recipient of the [[King George VI Coronation Medal]]
** Recipient of the [[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal]]
* {{flag|United States}}: 
** Chief Commander of the [[Legion of Merit]]
** Recipient of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, University of North Dakota<ref>{{Cite web |title=Text of Speech by Norwegian Crown Prince Olav at UND Commencement, June 7, 1939 |url=https://commons.und.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1091&context=und-commencement-programs |website=UND Scholarly Commons}}</ref>
* {{flag|Yugoslavia}}: Great Star of the [[Order of the Yugoslav Star]]<ref>[http://www.kongehuset.no/c29380/artikkel/vis.html?tid=29386 Royal House of Norway web page on King Olav V's decorations] (Norwegian) Retrieved 5 October 2007</ref>

===Other honours===
* {{flag|Norway}} – A 180 000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> area ([[Prince Olav Coast]]) and the [[Prince Olav Mountains]] in [[Antarctica]] are named in his honour.
* {{flag|Norway}} – [[Olav V Land]] on [[Svalbard]] is named in his honour.
* {{flag|Norway}} – In 1961 the King was a laureate of the [[Nansen Refugee Award]].
* {{flag|Norway}} – In 1968 he was awarded the [[Holmenkollen medal]].
* {{flag|Norway}} – In 2005, Olav was proclaimed the [[Norwegian of the Century]], with 41 percent of the tele-votes in a popular competition held by [[NRK]].
* {{flag|United Kingdom|air force}} – In 1959, Olav was granted the honorary rank of [[Air Chief Marshal]] in the [[Royal Air Force]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=41815 |date=11 September 1959 |page=5791 |supp=y }}</ref>
* {{flag|United Kingdom|naval}} – In 1958, Olav was granted the honorary rank of [[Admiral (Royal Navy)|Admiral]] in the [[Royal Navy]],<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=41435 |date=1 July 1958 |page=4199 |supp=y }}</ref> and in 1988, he was granted the honorary rank of [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=51344 |date=23 May 1988 |page=6093 |supp=y }}</ref>
* {{flag|United Kingdom}} – [[Freedom of the City|Honorary Freeman]] of [[Richmond, London|Richmond]]
* {{flag|United Kingdom}} – [[Freedom of the City|Honorary Freedom]] of [[Newcastle upon Tyne]]<ref>{{cite news |first=Rolleiv |last=Solholm |title=King Harald receives honorary title |url=http://www.norwaypost.no/index.php/culture/21238 |work=[[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]] |publisher=Norway Post |date=14 November 2008 |access-date=4 May 2013}}</ref>
* {{flag|South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands}} – [[Prince Olav Harbour]] on [[South Georgia Island|South Georgia]] is also named in his honour.
{{clear}}
* {{flag|Norway}} – Member of the [[Independent Order of Odd Fellows]].{{sfn|Suits|2011|p=53}}
* {{flag|Skopje}}, [[SR Macedonia]] – In 1966, Olav became an honorary citizen.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-15|title=Official portal of City of Skopje - Honorary citizens|url=http://skopje.gov.mk/EN/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415161438/http://skopje.gov.mk/EN/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=0&tabid=26|url-status=dead|archive-date=2017-04-15|access-date=2021-07-01}}</ref>

==Issue==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Children!! Birth!! Death!!Married
!Grandchildren
!Great-grandchildren
!Great-great-grandchildren
|-
|[[Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen|Princess Ragnhild of Norway]]||9 June 1930||16 September 2012||married 1953, [[Erling Lorentzen]]
|Haakon Lorentzen (b. 23 August 1954)
Ingeborg Lorentzen Ribeiro (b. 27 February 1957)

Ragnhild Lorentzen Long (b. 8 May 1968)
|Olav Lorentzen (b. 11 July 1985)
Christian Lorentzen (b. 23 May 1988)

Sophia Lorentzen (b. 28 Jun 1994)

Victoria Ribeiro Falcao (b. 19 December 1988)

Alexandra Long (b. 14 December 2007)

Elizabeth Long (b. 2011)
|Frederik Falcao (b. 28 September 2016)
Alice Falcao (b. 21 October 2022)

Thomas Lorentzen (b. 2022)

Salvador Lorentzen (b. 1 April 2023)
|-
|[[Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner|Princess Astrid of Norway]]||12 February 1932||||married 1961, [[Johan Ferner]]
|Cathrine Ferner Johansen (b. 22 July 1962)
Benedikte Ferner Stange (b. 27 September 1963)

Alexander Ferner (b. 15 March 1965)

Elisabeth Ferner Beckmann (b. 30 March 1969)

Carl-Christian Ferner (b. 22 October 1972, Oslo)
|Sebastian Johansen (b. 9 March 1990)
Madeleine Johansen (b. 7 March 1993)

Edward Ferner (b. 28 March 1996)

Stella Ferner (b. 23 April 1998)

Benjamin Beckmann (b. 25 April 1999)

Fay Ferner (b. 10 July 2018)

Fam Ferner (b. 28 January 2021)
|Nicoline Johansen (b. 2019)
Ferdinand Johansen (b. 2021)
|-
|[[Harald V of Norway]]||21 February 1937||||married 1968, [[Sonja Haraldsen]]
|[[Princess Märtha Louise|Princess Märtha Louise of Norway]] (b. 22 September 1971)
[[Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway|Crown Prince Haakon Magnus]] (b. 20 July 1973)
|[[Maud Behn]] (b. 29 April 2003)
[[Leah Behn]] (b. 8 April 2005)

Emma Behn (b. 2008)

[[Princess Ingrid Alexandra]] (b. 21 January 2004)

[[Prince Sverre Magnus]] (b. 3 December 2005)
|
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Kong Haakon ankommer Norge 1905.jpg|{{center|Crown Prince Olav arrives in Norway in 1905 on his father's arm and is greeted by [[Prime Minister of Norway|Prime Minister]] [[Christian Michelsen]].}}
File:Kronprins olav 1906 av a bloch.jpg|{{center|Drawing, 1906, by [[Andreas Bloch]]}}
File:Time-magazine-cover-scandanavian-royalty-marries-1929.jpg|[[Princess Märtha of Sweden|Märtha]] and Olav on the cover of ''Time'' on the occasion of their wedding
File:Kongebjorka.jpeg|{{center|Crown Prince Olav and his father King Haakon VII take shelter under birch trees as the German Luftwaffe bombs [[Molde (town)|Molde]].}}
File:Martha and Olav 1950.jpg|{{center|Märtha and Olav in 1950}}
File:Olafofnorway.jpg|{{center|Olav in 1921 as Crown Prince}}
File:Haakon VII of Norway 3775425108 c95d6db9fc o.jpg|[[Haakon VII of Norway]], [[Maud of Wales]] and Crown Prince Olav on 17 July 1913 in Norway
File:Royal Monogram of King Olav V of Norway.svg|[[Royal cypher]] of King Olav V
File:Prince Olav, Norway Christmas seal, 1928.jpg|Prince Olav on a 1928 'National aid' Christmas seal of Norway
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Descendants of Christian IX of Denmark]] – Lists members of European royalty who share a common ancestor with Olav V

==Notes==
{{Notelist|1}}

==References==
{{Reflist|33em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book|last=Benkow |first=Jo |author-link=Jo Benkow |year=1991 |title=Olav – menneske og monark |edition=3rd |publisher=Gyldendal Norsk Forlag |location=Oslo |isbn=82-05-20192-7 |language=no}}
* {{ cite book | last=Bramsen | first=Bo | year=1992 | title=Huset Glücksborg. Europas svigerfader og hans efterslægt.| trans-title=The House of Glücksburg. The Father-in-law of Europe and his descendants | edition=2nd | publisher=Forlaget Forum | location=Copenhagen | isbn=87-553-1843-6 | lang=da }}
* {{cite book|last1=Bratli |first1=Kjell Arne |author-link=Kjell Arne Bratli |first2=Øyvind |last2=Schau |year=1995 |title=Sjøoffiser og samfunnsbygger : Vernepliktige sjøoffiserers forening : 100-års jubileumsbok : 1895–1995  |publisher=Sjømilitære Samfund ved Norsk Tidsskrift for Sjøvesen |location=Hundvåg |isbn=82-91008-09-4 |url=http://www.nb.no/utlevering/nb/da9b2a184e0dd4da7991e63055b37827#&struct=DIV92 |language=no}}
* {{cite book|last=Dahl |first=Hans Fredrik |author-link=Hans Fredrik Dahl |year=1982  |title=Norge under Olav V |publisher=Cappelen |location=Oslo |isbn=8202090520 |url=https://www.nb.no/nbsok/nb/7b3a1dba9cbc7cdea7bfd1ee9fe2b693?index=2 |language=no}}
*{{cite news |last=Flint |first=Peter B. |date=18 January 1991 |title=Olav V, Norway's King 33 Years And Resistance Hero, Dies at 87 |newspaper=[[New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/18/obituaries/olav-v-norway-s-king-33-years-and-resistance-hero-dies-at-87.html}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Lerche|first1=Anna|last2=Mandal|first2=Marcus|year=2003|title=A royal family : the story of Christian IX and his European descendants|location=Copenhagen|publisher=Aschehoug|isbn=9788715109577}}
*{{cite book|last=Suits |first=Julia  |date=2011 |title=The Extraordinary Catalog of Peculiar Inventions: The Curious World of the Demoulin Brothers and Their Fraternal Lodge Prank Machi nes - from Human Centipedes and Revolving Goats to ElectricCarpets and SmokingC |publisher=Penguin Publishing Group |isbn=978-1-101-54576-8 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=3pLGZWs0wLIC&pg=PT53 53]}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Olav V of Norway}}
* [http://www.royalcourt.no/ Official Website of the Royal House of Norway]
* [http://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=28671&sek=28577 King Olav – biography (Official Website of the Royal House of Norway)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20151214082116/http://www.saintolav.com/ The Royal Norwegian Order of St Olav – H.M. King Olav V the former Grand Master of the Order]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070224190249/http://www.skiforeningen.no/holmenkollen/holmenkollen_historikk Holmenkollen medalists] – click Holmenkollmedaljen for downloadable pdf file {{in lang|no}}
* {{PM20|FID=pe/022761}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg]] | 2 July|1903|17 January|1991|[[House of Oldenburg]] | name=Olav V}}
{{s-reg}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Haakon VII]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[King of Norway]] | years=1957–1991}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Harald V]]}}
{{s-roy|no}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Gustaf V of Sweden|Gustaf]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of heirs to the Norwegian throne|Crown Prince of Norway]] | years=1905–1957}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Harald V of Norway|Harald]]}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Wilhelm von Tangen Hansteen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Defence of Norway]] | years=1944–1945}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Otto Ruge]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Monarchs of Norway}}
{{Norwegian princes}}
{{Danish princes}}
{{Holmenkollen medal}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 6 Metre}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Thai sort key not needed}}
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[[Category:1903 births]]
[[Category:1991 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Norwegian monarchs]]
[[Category:20th-century regents]]
[[Category:House of Glücksburg (Norway)]]
[[Category:Norwegian people of World War II]]
[[Category:Princes of Denmark]]
[[Category:Norwegian princes]]
[[Category:Norwegian male ski jumpers]]
[[Category:Norwegian male sailors (sport)]]
[[Category:Olympic sailors for Norway]]
[[Category:Sailors at the 1928 Summer Olympics – 6 Metre]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Norway]]
[[Category:Norwegian Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Norwegian Army generals]]
[[Category:Crown princes of Norway]]
[[Category:Royal Olympic medalists]]
[[Category:Royal Air Force officers holding honorary commissions]]
[[Category:Holmenkollen medalists]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau]]
[[Category:Knights of the Golden Fleece of Spain]]
[[Category:Chief Commanders of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)]]
[[Category:Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Collars of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Grand Star of the Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria]]
[[Category:Recipients of the War Cross (Greece)]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the House of Orange]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Sun of Peru]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Aviz]]
[[Category:Grand Collars of the Order of Saint James of the Sword]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Star of Romania]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights of the Thistle]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Extra Knights Companion of the Garter]]
[[Category:Grand Commanders of the Order of the Dannebrog]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao]]
[[Category:Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the War Cross (Norway)]]
[[Category:Norwegian people of German descent]]
[[Category:Norwegian people of English descent]]
[[Category:Burials at the Royal Mausoleum (Norway)]]
[[Category:Royal Navy admirals of the fleet]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in sailing]]
[[Category:Norwegian Army World War II generals]]
[[Category:Royal Norwegian Navy World War II admirals]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1928 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]
[[Category:Nansen Refugee Award laureates]]
[[Category:Recipients of orders, decorations, and medals of Ethiopia]]