- Crown Prince Haakon has acceded to the Norwegian throne as King Haakon VIII following the death of his father, King Harald V.
- The new monarch dreamed of owning a toy shop as a child; he studied political science at Berkeley and holds a master's in development studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
- He is an enthusiastic surfer, skier, and sportsman and enjoys rap music and playing the guitar.
- Haakon married commoner Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby in August 2001 and they have two children: 22-year-old Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra (the new heir to the throne) and 20-year-old Crown Prince Sverre Magnus.
- The king is also the stepfather to Mette-Marit’s son, 29-year-old Marius Borg Høiby, who is currently serving a four-year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape.
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