Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen

Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen
Name	Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen
Birth date	9 June 1930
Birth place	Oslo
Death date	16 September 2012
Death place	Rio de Janeiro
House	House of Glücksburg
Father	Olav V of Norway
Mother	Märtha of Sweden
Spouse	Erling Lorentzen
Issue	Haakon Lorentzen; Ingrid Lorentzen (b. 1953); Ragnhild Lorentzen

Princess Ragnhild, Mrs. Lorentzen was a Norwegian princess, the eldest child of Olav V of Norway and Märtha of Sweden, who became notable for leaving Norway to live in Brazil after marrying Erling Lorentzen. Born into the House of Glücksburg, she maintained ties with the Norwegian Royal Family, visited Scandinavia, and took part in public and charitable events while residing in Rio de Janeiro and later Moss, Norway.

Early life and family

Princess Ragnhild was born in Oslo at a time when the Norwegian throne was held by Haakon VII of Norway and the political landscape of Scandinavia involved figures such as Gustaf V of Sweden and post-World War II leaders like Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Her father, Olav V of Norway, served in the Norwegian Army and was celebrated during events involving the Norwegian resistance movement from the era of World War II alongside personalities like King Haakon VII and exiled politicians such as Johan Nygaardsvold. Her mother, Märtha of Sweden, was the sister of Gustaf VI Adolf and maintained correspondence with figures including Queen Elizabeth II and members of European dynasties like the House of Bernadotte and the House of Windsor. Ragnhild's childhood intersected with royal visits and state occasions that involved dignitaries from Denmark and Sweden, and she grew up amid households associated with institutions such as Akershus Fortress and residences like The Royal Palace, Oslo.

Her siblings included King Harald V of Norway and Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, who later interacted with international figures such as Margrethe II of Denmark and Queen Sonja of Norway. The family maintained relations across houses including the House of Bourbon-Parma and the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, and hosted diplomats from countries including United Kingdom, United States, France, and Sweden.

Marriage and life in Brazil

In 1953, Ragnhild married Erling Lorentzen, a Norwegian industrialist with business ties to transatlantic trade and the shipping industry, prompting connections with companies and entrepreneurs involved with the Port of Santos and commercial networks that included São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The marriage linked her to enterprises operating in the Brazilian petroleum industry and manufacturing sectors that engaged with multinational firms from United States, United Kingdom, and Norway. The wedding was observed by members of royal houses such as Queen Elizabeth II, representatives from the House of Bernadotte, and envoys from Denmark and Iceland.

Settling in Brazil, Ragnhild navigated a cultural environment shaped by figures like Getúlio Vargas in historical memory and contemporary leaders including Juscelino Kubitschek and João Goulart. Her move attracted attention from newspapers and broadcasters associated with media outlets in Oslo, Stockholm, and London, and she maintained correspondence with relatives in the Norwegian Royal Family and acquaintances from institutions such as the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation.

Public role and activities

While residing in Brazil, she undertook public appearances at charity events and community organizations which involved collaboration with local elites, consular networks, and expatriate groups linked to embassies such as the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Brasilia. Her engagements intersected with cultural institutions and festivals that referenced composers like Edvard Grieg and authors such as Henrik Ibsen and Knut Hamsun in Norwegian expatriate circles. She attended national commemorations in Norway alongside members of the royal household including King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja and international ceremonies where representatives from the United Nations and delegations from countries like Brazil, Sweden, and Denmark were present.

Ragnhild participated in philanthropic initiatives which worked with organizations similar to foundations associated with the Norwegian monarchy and cooperated with charity actors comparable to Red Cross chapters and cultural foundations that liaised with museums like the National Museum and institutions such as the University of Oslo.

Later years and death

In later decades she continued to split time between Brazil and Norway, attending royal family events including jubilees, state functions, and christenings that involved figures like Crown Prince Haakon and cultural personalities such as Liv Ullmann and Edvard Munch-related exhibitions. Her presence at public occasions put her alongside international royals from the House of Glücksburg branches in Denmark and Greece and attendees from diplomatic circles including envoy offices from United States, United Kingdom, and Sweden.

Princess Ragnhild died in Rio de Janeiro on 16 September 2012, with obituaries carried by media outlets in capitals such as Oslo, Stockholm, and London; her funeral and memorial arrangements involved clergy and representatives linked to the Church of Norway and diplomatic missions including the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Brasilia and consulates covering São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

Titles, honours and arms

Throughout her life she was styled with titles reflecting her birth in the House of Glücksburg and her place within the royal succession alongside Olav V of Norway and Haakon VII of Norway. Her honours and decorations paralleled awards customarily granted within Scandinavian and European orders, associated with chivalric institutions comparable to the Order of St. Olav and state recognitions conferred during official visits by representatives from countries like Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, and France.

Category:Norwegian princesses Category:House of Glücksburg (Norway) Category:1930 births Category:2012 deaths