Princess Märtha Of Sweden

Princess Märtha of Sweden (Märtha Sofia Lovisa Dagmar Thyra), born on 28 March 1901, was a member of the Swedish royal family. She was the daughter of Prince Carl of Sweden, Duke of Västergötland, and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. Her father was the younger brother of King Gustav V of Sweden, making her a first cousin twice removed of the current King of Sweden. Her mother was the younger sister of King Christian X of Denmark and King Haakon VII of Norway.

Märtha was born at Arvfurstens Palats in Stockholm and was the second child in her family. She had an elder sister, Princess Margaretha of Denmark; a younger sister, Queen Astrid of Belgium; and a younger brother, Prince Carl Bernadotte. Her childhood education was provided by private tutors, focusing on childcare and first aid. She and her sisters were occasionally seen shopping unaccompanied in Stockholm.

In 1928, during the Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, Märtha became engaged to Prince Olav of Norway, who was her first and second cousin. The engagement was publicly celebrated as a symbol of improved relations between Norway and Sweden. Her sister Astrid was initially considered a potential bride for Olav, but she later married King Leopold III of Belgium.

Märtha and Olav married on 21 March 1929 at Oslo Cathedral. Their marriage was the first royal wedding in Norway in over three centuries. They had three children: Princess Ragnhild (1930–2012), Princess Astrid (born 1932), and Harald (born 1937), who later became King Harald V of Norway.

As Crown Princess of Norway, Märtha became a prominent figure and engaged in numerous official duties. She resided at Skaugum estate, a gift from Baron Fritz Wedel-Jarlsberg. After the fire at Skaugum in 1930, she participated in its reconstruction. In 1935, her sister Queen Astrid was killed in a car accident, a loss she mourned deeply.

Prior to World War II, in 1939, the Crown Princess and her husband toured the United States, where they befriended President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt. During this visit, she was initiated into the Delta Zeta sorority at the University of North Dakota. She became the senior lady at the Norwegian court following the death of Queen Maud in 1938.

During the German invasion of Norway in April 1940, Märtha and her family fled to Sweden, initially denied entry but eventually crossing the border. She later traveled to the United States at Roosevelt's invitation, staying at the White House with her children. Her separation from Crown Prince Olav during the war was significant, but she maintained her efforts to support Norway and Norwegian interests.

In 1941 and 1942, Märtha undertook notable diplomatic efforts, including traveling with President Roosevelt on the USS Potomac to Newfoundland, participating in Atlantic Charter meetings, and supporting Norwegian forces and interests. She delivered speeches in Norway, was involved in fundraising, and worked for Norwegian causes, earning the respect of American officials. Roosevelt reportedly considered her an important figure in his life during the war.

After the war, Märtha returned to Norway in 1945, where she was widely admired for her contributions during the war. She took on increasing official responsibilities as King Haakon VII's health declined, making public addresses such as New Year's Eve speeches in 1946 and 1950.

Märtha's health deteriorated in the post-war years, and she died at The National Hospital in Oslo on 5 April 1954. She was buried at Akershus Castle. Her death is often attributed to cancer or hepatitis. She was 53 years old.

Her legacy includes geographic features named after her, such as the Princess Martha Coast in Antarctica, and commemorative statues in Washington, D.C., and Oslo. The Crown Princess Märtha’s Memorial Fund was established in her honor to support social and humanitarian initiatives. Her descendants include King Harald V and Princess Märtha Louise. Her life has been depicted in the television miniseries "Atlantic Crossing."