Succession to the Norwegian throne

The line of succession to the Norwegian throne consists of people entitled to become head of state of Norway.

The succession is currently governed by Article 6 of the Constitution, altered most recently in 1990 to introduce absolute primogeniture among the grandchildren and further eligible descendants of King Harald V. Harald's children were ranked according to male-preference cognatic primogeniture, which was in place between 1971 and 1990; his son Haakon and his eligible descendants thus took precedence over his older sister, Princess Märtha Louise, and her eligible descendants.^[1] Haakon's oldest child, Ingrid Alexandra, takes precedence over her younger brother, Sverre Magnus.

Only legitimate descendants of the reigning monarch and the reigning monarch's siblings and their legitimate descendants can be in line to the throne. However, Harald V's elder sister, Princess Astrid and her descendants, along with descendants of the King's deceased eldest sister, Princess Ragnhild, are excluded from the line of succession due to the agnatic primogeniture which existed prior to 1971.^[1]

If there is no heir to the throne, the Storting (parliament) has the power to determine the successor under Article 7, while Article 48 provides for the election of a new monarch if the royal line has died out and no successor has been designated.^[2][3]

Under Article 9 of the Constitution, a monarch who is of age must take an oath upon assuming the government, before the Storting. If the Storting is not in session, the oath is initially given in writing before the Council of State and repeated at the first subsequent Storting.^[4][5]