Regarding nobles in Norway, is there any person still carrying a noble title in the Kingdom? How about Norwegians accepting foreign noble titles: are they allowed to do and if the answer if yes, are those titles legally recognised in Norway?
The Constitution of Norway Article 34 says that "The King shall make provisions concerning titles for those who are entitled to succeed to the Crown."
However, at the time Princess Märtha Louise was born, the article read: "The nearest heir to the Throne, if he is the son of the reigning King, shall bear the title of Crown Prince. The other persons entitled to succeed to the Throne shall be called Princes, and the daughters of the Royal House, Princesses."
So the first question would be if "the King" in this situation means the king in person or "the King in Council" (i.e. government). One leading constitutional expert, Arne Fliflet, belives it is the former. Another question is whether the original reading could give the title more "protection" than the present reading. One thing is for sure, if the government asks the king to do something about the title, he will certainly oblige. I don't think this is very realistic at the moment. Before the princess gave up her apanage (from 1 January 2002), the interpretation in the Ministry of Justice was that she would have to give it up personally, it couldn't be taken away from her by force (cf. my "Report on the Norwegian Royal House's civil list and the state-owned properties at its disposial", 2001). She was kindly asked to give it up and she obliged. I think there is a parallell to the title issue, as it also derives from the Constitution. It is easier to give something than to take away something. Generally, there is little precedence on the matter, so one should be careful about being too categorial about what could happen or not.
I think the princess has got the point and will be more careful in the future.
Regarding the last question, the answer is a definite no. The Constitution forbids the creation of new nobility. The king only has the right to give royal titles (i.e. Prince or Princess and Crown Prince and Crown Princess), as the prreparatory work before the constitutional changs in 1990, the current reading of Article 34 has to be read with background in the previousn reading.
DTH
Thanks Dag.
Well, if the couple get married, the gentleman's surname can be an alternative. Curious to see what happens next.
For a renunciation of her title and style to happen, will the King be the one to demand/authorize it? Does the Government has anything to say about it? Could she be given some sort of noble title?
Yes, Haraldsen would be an alternative (of many). I hope we will not get there, though. I hope we will avoid a situation where the princess has to give up her title, but she can't continue acting the way she has done lately. By customary law the royal family doesn't use a surname, even though the name act requires it. A compromise would of course be that the princess took a surname and used it professionally, while she keeps her title for other purposes.
Yes, patronyms was used before the first name act in 1923, then it was required to have a permanent surname - some got their patronyms "frozen", others used their farm name and others again already had a surname (many immigrant families in Norway). Well, that is the short version, more could be said about Norwegian surnames, but I will not go into more detail now.
Some people have a patronym as a middle name. I could for instance register Bjørnsen/Bjørnson/Bjørnsønn as a middle name if I wanted to. But as I already have a middle name - Trygsland (my mother's maiden name and also her middle name) - I think one middle name is enough!
DTH
Being the daughter of one Harald, she could be Haraldsen, which happens to be her mother's family surname.
I meant some Scandinavian surnames used to be patronymics before - Andersen, Kristiansen, Aleksandersen, Jakobsen, Larsen, Nielsen, Pettersen... That's interesting she has used Glücksburg before. Any idea if other members of the Norwegian or Denish RFs ever used it before, too?
I believe for some 'artistic' purpose "Märtha Louise" would be enough. In any case, I believe women in Scandinavia use to have patronymics as surnames
No, not true, most Scandinavian women keep their own maiden name or take their husband's.
so if strictly necessary "Märtha Louise Haraldsen" sounds perfect.
She has used Glücksburg before (for instance when studying rosen therapy in the USA). There are plenty of opportunites, such as getting a more Norwegian surname - Skaugum would be one possibility (after application).
DTH
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