Order of Succession
The succession to the Norwegian throne is linear. This means that only a person who is the child of a king or reigning queen, or of someone who is themselves entitled to inherit, may succeed to the throne.
Direct descent takes precedence over more distant lines, and older children take precedence over younger ones. This is laid down in Article 6 of the Constitution.
On 29 May 1990, the Storting amended the Constitution so that the eldest child —regardless of gender—takes precedence over their siblings in the line of succession. However, the law also states that for those born before this amendment entered into force, the former rule, under which men take precedence over women, continues to apply. As a result, Crown Prince Haakon remained first in line to the throne, followed by his daughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
The Constitution also states that when a prince or princess with a right of succession to the throne is born, the name and time of birth shall be communicated to the Storting.
The Norwegian Constitution: Article 6
The Constitution
Article 6 of the Constitution states:
"The order of succession is lineal, so that only a child born in lawful wedlock of the Queen or King, or of one who is herself or himself entitled to the succession, may succeed, and so that the nearest line shall take precedence over the more remote and the elder in the line over the younger.
An unborn child shall also be included among those entitled to the succession and shall immediately take her or his proper place in the line of succession as soon as she or he is born into the world.
The right of succession shall not, however, belong to any person who is not born in the direct line of descent from the last reigning Queen or King or a sister or brother thereof, or is not herself or himself a sister or brother thereof.
When a Princess or Prince entitled to succeed to the Crown of Norway is born, her or his name and time of birth shall be notified to the first Storting in session and be entered in the record of its proceedings.
For those born before the year 1971, Article 6 of the Constitution as it was passed on 18 November 1905 shall, however, apply. For those born before the year 1990 it shall nevertheless be the case that a male shall take precedence over a female."