Portrait of King Haakon VII of Norway (1872 - 1957), born Prince Christian Frederik CARL Georg Valdemar Axel of Denmark. Married Princess Maud of Wales and Great Britain in 1896. After the dissolution of the Union of Sweden and Norway, he became the leading European Royal candidate to become monarch of the newly independent Norway. Before accepting the crown, Prince Carl insisted on a referendum. The Norwegian people voted overwhelmingly for a monarchy and Carl was crowned King Haakon VII in 1906.