King Harald has delighted royal fans with a nostalgic look back at his childhood after the Norwegian Royal House shared a collection of rarely seen archival photographs celebrating the monarchy’s centuries-long relationship with horses.
The heartwarming carousel, published on the royal family’s official Instagram account, features the future king riding as a young prince in 1952 alongside historic images of King Haakon VII, Queen Maud and Crown Prince Olav.
The photographs trace a royal tradition that stretches back more than 175 years and remains an important part of Norway’s royal heritage today.
The post was shared to highlight the history of the Royal Stables in Oslo, which were completed in 1848 shortly after the Royal Palace.
© The Norwegian Royal House.For decades, horses were central to life at the palace, serving not only as transportation for the royal family but also during military ceremonies, official processions and the day-to-day operation of the royal estate.
One particularly charming image shows a young Prince Harald confidently riding at the riding school at Skøyen in 1952, decades before he would ascend the Norwegian throne.
© The Norwegian Royal House.
© The Norwegian Royal House.Other photographs transport viewers even further back in time, including portraits of King Haakon VII with his horse at Bygdøy Royal Farm in 1910, Queen Maud riding through the palace grounds and family moments featuring the future King Olav V.
The collection also offers a glimpse at the lighter side of royal childhood, including a delightful photograph of Prince Harald dressed as a cowboy at Skaugum in 1939, reflecting the family’s longstanding affection for horses and equestrian life.
© The Norwegian Royal House.Beyond the family portraits, the palace included photographs of beautifully preserved saddles, bridles and harnesses bearing the royal crown, as well as images of the former stable buildings themselves.
Today, those historic spaces have been transformed into the Queen Sonja Art Stable, an exhibition venue that preserves the history of the Royal Stables while hosting rotating art and cultural exhibitions.
© The Norwegian Royal House.According to the Norwegian Royal House, horses played an essential role at the palace for generations.
In addition to transporting members of the royal family, they helped maintain the palace grounds and carried equipment throughout the estate before automobiles gradually replaced them during the mid-20th century.
© The Norwegian Royal House.While horses are no longer part of the palace’s daily operations, the newly shared archive serves as a reminder that they were once inseparable from royal life.
Through these rare photographs, King Harald and the Norwegian Royal House are offering an intimate glimpse into a tradition that helped shape generations of the monarchy and continues to be preserved for visitors today.
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