The Armed Forces
His Majesty The King is the highest ranking officer in Norway. He holds the rank of General in the Army and Air Force, and of Admiral in the Navy.
Military authority is exercised by The King in Council of State, which means it is the Norwegian Government that has the ultimate military responsibility in times of war and peace.
Military command authority is delegated to the military chiefs of staff. The Chief of Defence is Norway’s highest military official and foremost adviser to the Government and the Minister of Defence on military matters.
The Norwegian constitution: Article 25
The Constitution
Article 25 of the Constitution states:
"The King is Commander-in-Chief of the land and naval forces of the Realm. These forces may not be increased or reduced without the consent of the Storting. They may not be transferred to the service of foreign powers, nor may the military forces of any foreign power, except auxiliary forces assisting against hostile attack, be brought into the Realm without the consent of the Storting."
A long-standing tradition
King Haakon stands in a tradition that extends back to King Haakon VII and continues forward to Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
King Haakon VII was trained as a naval officer and served in this capacity before being chosen as Norway’s new king in 1905. King Olav was educated at the Norwegian Military Academy and served, among other roles, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces during the last part of the Second World War. King Harald graduated from the Military Academy in 1959.
King Haakon VIII continued the maritime legacy of his great grandfather and undertook the military component of his education at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy in Bergen. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra completed her initial military service with the Engineer Battalion in Brigade North in 2025.
