For several hundred years, Norway shared a king with Denmark and then with Sweden. The country became independent again in 1905 and crowned its own king. The Royal House of Norway belongs to the House of Glücksburg. Today, the members of the Norwegian Royal House are Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja and Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and their children. The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess live with their children at the manor house of Skaugum near Oslo. They have three children: Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, who are second and third in line to the throne after their father, and Marius, an older brother. The King and Queen live in the Royal Palace in central Oslo. They have a summer house in Bygdøy on the outskirts of Oslo and holiday homes by the seaside and in the mountains. They have a royal yacht called Norge (which is 'Norway' in Norwegian).  The King and Queen and the Crown Prince and Princess try to visit as many parts of their country as they can each year. This helps them to understand how the people of Norway live and work in different parts of the country. They also act as patrons for different organisations or events. This means they help to support worthy causes and make more people aware of their work. Each year, the King takes part in one or more state visits abroad, and plays host to foreign rulers who visit Norway. Another  of the royal family’s responsibilities is to present awards to people who have made a valuable contribution to Norwegian society. They also hold meetings, called audiences, with people who wish to give thanks for their award or give the royal family information about an issue or organisation that affects Norwegians. It’s certainly a busy life being a member of the royal family!