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Norway has one of the oldest surviving monarchies in the world, dating back over a thousand years. The first ruler of the kingdom was Harald Fairhair in 885, when the leader of the Scandinavian warriors united several small kingdoms into a single kingdom. Over the centuries, both the monarchy and Norway have undergone numerous changes, including once being in a dual kingdom system with neighboring Sweden.
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Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway and His Majesty King Harald of Norway attend the Norwegian Constitution Day at the Royal Palace on May 17, 2026 in Oslo, Norway.
This arrangement ended in 1905, coinciding with the emergence of the House of Glucksburg, which remains in power today. The current monarch, King Harald V, ascended the throne in 1991 and became the first prince born in the country in 567 years. Various members of the royal family have been making headlines lately for a number of reasons, including last year’s Netflix documentary. Rebellious royal family which explored the much-discussed union of the king’s daughter Princess Martha Louise and Durek Verrett, a self-proclaimed shaman.
Below you’ll find ELLE Decor’s roundup of the places where the royal family lives, plays and hosts official state events.
Royal Palace in Oslo
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The Royal Palace in Oslo is the official residence of the king.
The Royal Palace is located in the heart of the Norwegian capital and serves as the official residence and main office of the current monarch, King Harald V. Danish architect Hans Linstowe designed the 173-room Oslo complex in a restrained neoclassical style inspired by the great royal residences of Northern Europe, with a light stucco façade, a monumental portico and a large public plaza. Commissioned by King Karl Johan following Norway’s union with Sweden and completed in 1849, the palace became a physical symbol of Norway’s restored monarchy in the 19th century. Today it hosts state banquets and official ceremonies and hosts public visits in the summer.
Oscarshall
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Oscarshall in Bygdøy, near the center of Oslo.
The neo-Gothic Oscarshall, with its striking castle tower, was built in 1852 as the summer residence of King Oscar I and Queen Josephine. Designed by Danish architect Johan Henrik Nebelong and located on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo, the palace features richly decorated interiors that pay homage to Norwegian history. Oscarshall Hotel, wholly owned by the Norwegian government and open to the public during the summer, is made available to the reigning monarch, who uses the site for royal receptions and cultural programmes.
Royal Farm Bygdo
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Royal Farm Bygdø on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo.
The extensive Royal Farm Bygdo was built in 1733 and is the family’s oldest country house, with roots going back to the Middle Ages. The current French Baroque building was built in the 18th century on farmland overlooking the Oslo Fjord after King Karl Johan bought the nearly 500-acre site from the Norwegian government. Today the complex is again in state hands and combines working agricultural land (the largest producer of organic milk in Oslo) with forests and formal gardens. It also functions as the official summer residence of the king.
Stiftsgården
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Stiftsgården in Trondheim.
Built in 1778, Stiftsgården is one of Scandinavia’s largest wooden palaces and combines late Baroque and Rococo elements that defined much of the architecture of Norwegian society in the 18th century. Built as a luxurious townhouse for the wealthy widow Cecilia Christina Schöller, a member of the Privy Council, it became state property in 1906 and gradually became an important royal residence, hosting four coronations. Whenever the monarch visits Trondheim, Norway’s fourth largest city, Stiftsgården serves as the official royal residence.
old pile
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Gamlaugen in Bergen, Norway’s second largest city.
Built at the turn of the 20th century in Norway’s second largest city, Gamlehaugen was designed in a romantic Scottish baronial style with towers, battlements and picturesque gardens overlooking Bergen’s waterfront. It was originally commissioned by Christian Michelsen, the statesman who became the country’s first prime minister after the collapse of the union with Sweden in 1905, and was later purchased by the Norwegian state after his death. Since 1927, the estate has served as a royal residence in the coastal city, with members of the royal family staying here on official visits to western Norway. The surrounding English style gardens and much of the house are also open to the public.
Ledaal
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Ledaal in Stavanger.
Built in the early 19th century, the Ledaal Hotel is located in Stavanger, the country’s third largest city, and was designed for merchant and shipowner Gabriel Schanche Kielland. The neoclassical manor has a “late Empire red” appearance, defined by symmetrical proportions and Dutch brick construction. Since 1930, the estate’s custodian has been the Museum of Stavanger (MUST), which is open to the public, although Ledaal also serves as the official residence of the Norwegian royal family when they are in Stavanger. It is also used for government events such as gala dinners.
Royal yacht
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Royal yacht Norway.
Royal yacht named Norway, was built in 1937 by the famous British shipyard Camper & Nicholsons as a luxury yacht. Filante before being given to King Haakon VII in 1947 as a gift from the people of Norway. Following the acquisition, architect Finn Nilsson renovated the interiors in an elegant Scandinavian style. Now owned by the King and maintained by the Royal Norwegian Navy, the 263-foot ship is moored in Oslo and continues to serve as the royal family’s official yacht for state visits, county tours, ceremonial events and private cruises.
Jeffrey Montes is an assistant editor at ELLE Decor magazine with a serious love for all things real estate and design. Before that he worked at Architectural Digest, Gallery, And Saving magazines covering everything from jaw-dropping listicles to world-famous architects and design events like Salone del Mobile and Homo Faber.