The Norwegian royal family’s wartime residence in the United States — including extended stays as guests at the White House and at a house in Pooks Hill, Maryland — represents a largely forgotten chapter of American World War II history. President Roosevelt’s personal relationship with Crown Prince Olav (Harald’s father) was one of the wartime’s closest personal diplomatic friendships; Roosevelt called Olav ‘my good friend’ repeatedly.

THE SPECIFIC DETAILS  

▸  Crown Princess Märtha (Harald’s mother) was particularly close to President Roosevelt; she had a warm personal relationship with FDR that was the subject of historical discussion

▸  Harald attended school in Maryland during the war years; he grew up in suburban Washington DC

▸  The Norwegian government-in-exile operated from London, where King Haakon VII (Harald’s grandfather) and Crown Prince Olav organized resistance from Britain

▸  The split: Harald and his mother were in the US; his grandfather and father were in London; the wartime geography of the Norwegian royal exile was itself divided

Harold grew up playing on the White House grounds. FDR called his father his good friend. The king who died at 89 was the same boy who watched the Allied war effort from inside the American presidency. Almost none of that is remembered in the US today.

CONFIDENCE: HIGH

Norwegian royal family wartime US residence, White House stays, Roosevelt-Olav relationship, and Harald Maryland schooling are from AP obituary confirmed documentation.

SOURCES

▸  AP — Norwegian royal family WWII White House residence history, August 29, 2026