The first defining moment in the life of the young Prince Haakon came on a January evening in 1991: Deep snow covered the large square in front of Oslo Castle on the hill above the Norwegian capital. On this January 17th, King Olav V died after 34 years of reign. At the same moment, his only son Harald became king and his son Haakon became crown prince.
Shortly after the news broke, mourning Norwegians lit the first candles in the snow on the square, and then another, and another, until as the night wore on it became a sea of lights, a glowing memorial to the memories of the much-loved one. “People’s King Olav” – this is how the heir to the throne remembers it clearly.
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