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."
Close contact
King Harald maintains close contact with the Armed Forces throughout the year. He receives the Chief of Defence, the Chief of the Norwegian Joint Headquarters, and the heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Home Guard in regular audiences in order to remain continuously informed of the situation.
The King attends important ceremonies and commemorations organised by the Armed Forces and has, on several occasions, presented the War Cross — Norway’s highest ranking decoration. When Liberation Day and the National Veterans Day are marked at Akershus Fortress on 8 May, the King has taken part in the ceremony. In 2021, King Harald unveiled the National Veterans’ Monument at Akershus Fortress. The monument honours all personnel who have served in international operations since 1945.
King Harald has also visited the military exercise Cold Response and other major exercises on numerous occasions. These are exercises where units from allied nations and other partners train together in joint operations under demanding winter conditions.
In his daily duties, the King is assisted by an aide-de-camp who facilitates much of the practical arrangements.
His Majesty the King’s Guard is responsible for guarding the Royal Palace, the Bygdø Royal Estate and Skaugum. King Harald attends the Guard’s traditional church parade at Oslo Cathedral before Christmas, and previously also carried out an annual inspection of the Guard. This inspection is now conducted by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince on the King’s behalf.
The Royal Norwegian Navy mans and operates the Royal Yacht Norge.
A long-standing tradition
King Harald stands in a tradition that extends back to King Haakon VII and continues forward to Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
King Haakon 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 himself graduated from the Military Academy in 1959. Crown Prince Haakon continued the maritime legacy of King Haakon VII and undertook the military component of his education at the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy in Bergen. Princess Ingrid Alexandra completed her initial military service with the Engineer Battalion in Brigade North in 2025.
