The life of King Haakon falls into three distinct phases. The first shows
him as a young Danish prince and as a naval officer. The second is the
period from 1905 to 1940, in which he played his part in the establish-
ment of the modern Norwegian monarchy. In the third phase he figures
as the rallying-point of the nation at a time of crisis, and so becomes a
'people's king' -- a title of honour recalling the way in which the
Norwegians of the Viking period described their kings.

The present biography seeks to portray Haakon VII as man and as
monarch, while making clear typical features in the monarchical form of
government as it has developed in Norway during the present century.
The English version of the book omits a number of matters judged to be of
minor importance or chiefly of local interest. This has made it possible to
give more space to the international contacts of the royal family and to the
constitutional aspects of the reign. The chapters have been provided with
introductory sections by the translator, who is also responsible (unless
otherwise indicated) for the explanatory notes, for the bibliographical
note and for the amplification of the index to meet the needs of non-
Norwegian readers.

The paucity of the source material surviving from King Haakon's own
hand increases the author's indebtedness to the King's royal relations. His
Majesty King Olav V has supported every stage of the work with interviews
which have provided valuable information, guidance and encourage-
ment. He has also given permission for the use of extracts from a long
series of private letters. A large part of this correspondence is deposited
in the Royal Archives at Windsor and has been examined by gracious
permission of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty Queen
Margarethe of Denmark has likewise given gracious permission for the use
of letters from King Haakon to her great-grandfather, King Frederik VIII.

The author's task would have been impossible without the unfailing
support of the Private Secretary to King Olav, Mr Vincent Bommen, to
whom he is deeply grateful for his help and trust. His special thanks are
also due to the Palace Librarian, Mrs Lise Kongstad, who has assembled
materials for his book, including a number of hitherto unpublished
illustrations, some of them taken from Queen Maud's private albums.

Documents relating to the German invasion of 1940 are cited from the
translation published at the time in Norway and the War, for which per-
mission has kindly been given by the Oxford University Press and the
Royal Institute of International Affairs, London.

Oslo, T.G.
July 1981

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