King Olav V

Olav V was known as "The People's King". In 1973 when the international oil crisis limited the use of private cars, he travelled by public transport. A famous photograph from that year shows him riding a tram to go skiing in the hills of Oslo, insisting on paying the conductor for his own ticket. As he reached for the money in his pocket the moment was captured on film and later voted picture of the year in Norway.

When Germany invaded Norway on april 9th 1940, then crown prince Olav offered to stay in the country as the government and the royal family fled to Great Britain. However after the advice of the government he followed them to England. While in England he played a key-role in building the Norwegian armed forces, and despite being only crown prince at the time, he took over his father King Haakon's duties and became Commander of the Norwegian armed forces from June 1944 to July 1945. After Germany's defeat he was also the first member of the Royal family to return to Norway. In a military uniform he was greeted by an unprecedented number of liberated Norwegians in Oslo, and made a triumphant ride in an open Cadillac through the streets of the nations capital (a daring move considering there were still thousands of German soldiers left in the city). For his services during WWII, and his strong commitment to the Norwegian people during the five years of German occupation, Olav became enormously popular and was admired and loved by millions of Norwegians who loved to refer to him as "King Glad" (for his cheerful mood). When he died in 1991 there was a public show of grief and sorrow probably never to be seen again in Norway.

At the age of 36, in 1939, he had the rank of general in the army and admiral in the navy.

King Olav and princess Martha's children: Ragnhild Alexandra (b. 9 June 1930); Astrid Maud Ingeborg (b. 12 February 1932); Harald (b. 21 February 1937).

Was also an olympic athlete, winning a 1928 gold medal for sailing.

Became HRH Crown Prince Olav of Norway (18 November 1905). Consecrated King of Norway (22 June 1958).

King Olav V was born on July 2, 1903 in Sandringham, Norfolk, England as Prince Alexander Edward Christian Frederik of Denmark. He was married to Kronprinsesse Märtha.