Princess Märtha of Sweden was the Crown Princess of Norway through her 1929 marriage to Crown Prince Olav. Born in 1901, she became a significant public figure who advocated for Norwegian interests during her exile in the United States during World War II. She died in 1954 and was interred at the Akershus Fortress.
Arvfurstens palats in Stockholm served as the site for the birth of Princess Märtha on 28 March 1901. As a member of the Swedish royal family, she eventually became a central figure in Norway through her 1929 marriage to Crown Prince Olav, spending her final years as the nation’s Crown Princess until her death in 1954.
Early Life and Royal Lineage
Born to Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland, and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark, Märtha grew up in a household with significant European royal connections. She was a niece to both King Christian X of Denmark and King Haakon VII of Norway. Her education at home included comprehensive training in childcare and first aid, skills she retained throughout her life.
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The engagement of Märtha to her cousin, Crown Prince Olav, was announced during the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. This union was viewed as a positive development for relations between Sweden and Norway. The wedding took place on 21 March 1929 at the Oslo Cathedral, marking the first royal marriage in Norway in over three centuries. The couple lived at Skaugum, an estate gifted to them by Baron Fritz Wedel Jarlsberg, where she oversaw rebuilding efforts following a fire in 1930.
World War II and Exile
The German invasion of Norway in April 1940 forced Märtha and her three children to flee their country. After securing entry into Sweden by instructing her driver to force the vehicle through the border, she eventually traveled to the United States. During her time in North America, she performed significant advocacy work for Norwegian interests and supported the American Red Cross. Her efforts were recognized in 1942 when she was invested as a Dame Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav.
Later Years
Following the war, the Crown Princess returned to Norway, continuing her duties as a prominent member of the royal family. She passed away on 5 April 1954 at the age of 53 in Oslo. Her remains are interred at the Akershus Fortress. She did not survive to see her husband ascend the throne in 1957, nor did she witness the long reign of her son, Harald V.
Fast facts
- Born: 28 March 1901, Arvfurstens palats
- Died: 5 April 1954, Oslo
- Citizenship: Norway and Sweden
- Religion: Lutheranism
- Marriage: 21 March 1929
- Burial site: Akershus Fortress
- Key Award: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav (1942)
Questions readers ask
Did Princess Märtha become Queen of Norway?
No, she died in 1954, while her husband did not become King until 1957.
How many children did she have?
She had three children: Ragnhild, Astrid, and Harald V.
