A commoner, the daughter of Charles Augustus Haraldsen, she became engaged to Crown Prince Harald of Norway (now King Harald V) in March 1968, nine years after they began secretly dating. After the crown prince threatened to give up his rights to the throne unless he could marry Miss Haraldsen, they married on August 29, 1968, in Oslo, and she became Crown Princess of Norway.
Following the death of King Olav V, she became Norway´s first queen in 53 years on January 17 1991.
She and King Harald have two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon.