Norway has one of the oldest surviving monarchies in the world, spanning over a thousand years. The kingdom’s first ruler was Harald Fairhair in the year 885, when the Scandinavian warrior chief united several petty kingships into a single realm. Over the centuries, both the monarchy and Norway alike have undergone numerous evolutions—including once being under 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.
That arrangement ended in 1905, coinciding with the rise of the House of Glücksburg, which remains in power today. The current monarch, King Harald V, ascended the throne in 1991 and was the first prince born in the country in 567 years. Various members of the royal family have been in the headlines lately for a number of reasons, including last year’s Netflix documentary Rebel Royals, which explored the much-discussion union of the King’s Daughter Princess Märtha Louise and Durek Verrett, a self-styled shamen.
See below for ELLE Decor’s roundup of the places where the royal family lives, plays, and hosts official state functions.
The Royal Palace in Oslo
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The Royal Palace in Oslo is the king’s official residence.
The Royal Palace is located in the heart of the Norwegian capital and serves as the official residence and principal office of the current monarch, King Harald V. Danish architect Hans Linstow designed the 173-room Oslo complex in a restrained Neoclassical style, inspired by the great royal residences of northern Europe, with a pale stucco facade, monumental portico, and a grand public plaza. Commissioned by King Carl Johan after Norway entered union with Sweden and completed in 1849, the palace became the physical symbol of Norway’s restored monarchy during the 19th century. Today, it hosts state banquets and formal ceremonies as well as public visits during the summer.
Oscarshall
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Oscarshall in Bygdøy, just outside downtown Oslo.
With its striking castellated tower, the Neo-Gothic Oscarshall was completed in 1852 as a summer retreat for King Oscar I and Queen Joséphine. Designed by Danish architect Johan Henrik Nebelong and located on Oslo’s Bygdøy peninsula, the palace features ornate interiors that pay homage Norwegian history. Owned outright by the Norwegian government and open to the public during the summer, Oscarshall is placed at the disposal of the reigning monarch, who uses the venue for royal receptions and cultural programs.
Bygdø Royal Farm
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Bygdø Royal Farm on the Bygdøy peninsula in Oslo.
The sprawling Bygdø Royal Farm dates to 1733 and is the family’s longest-used country house, with roots stretching back to the Middle Ages. The present French Baroque building was constructed in the 18th century on farmland overlooking the Oslofjord, after King Carl Johan bought the nearly 500-acre property from the Norwegian government. Today, the compound is back in the hands of the state, and it combines a working agricultural estate (Oslo’s biggest organic milk producer) with woodland and formal gardens. It also functions as the official summer residence of the king.
Stiftsgården
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Stiftsgården in Trondheim.
Completed in 1778, Stiftsgården is one of Scandinavia’s largest wooden palaces and mixes late Baroque with Rococo influences that defined much of Norwegian society architecture in the 18th century. Built as the lavish townhouse for wealthy widow Cecilie Christine Schøller, a member of the privy council, it became state property in 1906 and gradually evolved into an important royal residence, hosting four coronations. Whenever the monarch visits Trondheim—Norway’s fourth largest city—Stiftsgården serves as the official royal accommodation.
Gamlehaugen
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Gamleaugen in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city.
Constructed at the turn of the 20th century in Norway’s second-largest city, Gamlehaugen was designed in a romantic Scottish Baronial style, complete with towers, battlements, and picturesque gardens overlooking Bergen’s waterfront. It was originally commissioned by Christian Michelsen, the statesman who became the nation’s first prime minister following the dissolution 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 the royal residence in the coastal city, and members of the royal family stay there during 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, Ledaal is located in Stavanger, the country’s third largest city, and was designed for merchant and shipowner Gabriel Schanche Kielland. The Neoclassical manor features a “late-Empire red” exterior defined by symmetrical proportions and Dutch brick construction. Since 1930, the custodian of the estate has been Museum Stavanger (MUST), which allows public access, although Ledaal also serves as the Norwegian royal family’s official residence when they’re in Stavanger. It’s also used for state functions such as gala dinners.
The Royal Yacht
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The Royal Yacht Norge.
The Royal Yacht, named Norge, was constructed in 1937 by renowned British shipyard Camper & Nicholsons as the luxury yacht Philante before being presented to King Haakon VII in 1947 as a gift from the people of Norway. Following its acquisition, architect Finn Nilsson revamped the interiors in an elegant Scandinavian style. Now owned by the king and maintained by the Royal Norwegian Navy, the 263-foot ship docks in Oslo and continues to serve as the royal family’s official yacht for state visits, county tours, ceremonial engagements, and private cruises.
Geoffrey Montes is an associate editor at ELLE Decor with a serious love for all things real estate and design. Before that, he worked at Architectural Digest, Galerie, and Preservation magazines, covering everything from jaw-dropping listings to world-famous architects and design events like Salone del Mobile and Homo Faber.