Post-war Years
In 1947 the Norwegian people, by public subscription, purchased the Royal Yacht Norge for the King. (In 2012 it was one of only two remaining Royal Yachts belonging to European monarchs; the other, Dannebrog, belongs to the Queen of Denmark, the King's niece).
Princess Ragnhild married businessman Erling Lorentzen (of the Lorentzen family) on 15 May 1953, being the first Norwegian Royal to marry a commoner. Haakon saw two of his great-grandchildren being born, Haakon Lorentzen (b. 23 August 1954) and Ingeborg Lorentzen (b. 3 February 1957).
Crown Princess Märtha died on 5 April 1954, after suffering from cancer.
King Haakon VII fell in his bathroom at the estate at Bygdøy in July 1955. This fall, which occurred just a month before his eighty-third birthday, broke the King's thighbone and, although there were few other complications resulting from the fall, the King was left using a wheelchair. The once-active king was said to have been depressed by his resulting helplessness and began to lose his customary involvement and interest in current events. With Haakon's loss of mobility, and as the King's health deteriorated further in the summer of 1957, Crown Prince Olav appeared on behalf of his father on ceremonial occasions and took a more active role in state affairs.
At Haakon's death in September 1957, the Crown Prince succeeded as Olav V. Haakon was buried on 1 October 1957. He and Maud rest in the white sarcophagus in the Royal Mausoleum at Akershus Fortress.
Today, King Haakon VII is regarded by many as one of the greatest Norwegian leaders of the pre-war period, managing to hold his young and fragile country together in unstable political conditions. His loyalty to democracy proved to be crucial for the political situation of Norway during and after World War II.
Read more about this topic: Haakon VII Of Norway
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