Bizarre twist sees another royal family in the British line of succession

Everyone is familiar with the top of the British royal line of succession - from Prince William to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. 

Then comes Prince Harry, followed by his children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and - controversially - Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor still in eighth place.

But make your way further down the list, and there are yet more surprises - specifically members of another European family entirely.

Eagle-eyed royal fans would have to scroll right down to the 90s, when some recognisable names start to appear - members of the Norwegian monarchy.

The Norwegian connection to the British throne

King Haakon VIII of Norway sits roughly 92nd in line to the British throne, followed by other members of the Norwegian royal house. They appear in line since they are descendants of Queen Maud, who was a daughter of the British King Edward VII.

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King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra had six children together: Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale (1864–1892), who was  second in line to the throne until his untimely death from pneumonia; Prince George, later King George V (1865–1936), who became King after his father's death and was a grandfather to the late Queen Elizabeth; Princess Louise, Princess Royal and Duchess of Fife (1867–1931), the eldest daughter of the family; Princess Victoria (1868–1935), who remained unmarried and lived closely with her mother; Princess Maud (1869–1938), the third daughter, who later became Queen of Norway as the wife of King Haakon VII; and Prince Alexander John (1871–1871), the youngest child, who was born prematurely and passed away just a day after birth.

Norway's future Queen bumped behind her brother

Following the death of King Harald V just last month, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the 22-year-old daughter of new King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit, is now first in line to the throne. She is set to become Norway's first queen in 600 years.

But while she is first in line to the Norwegian throne, she actually appears behind her younger brother in the British line of succession.

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Prince Sverre Magnus, 20, is the second of Haakon and Mette-Marit's two children and is second in line to succeed his father, after his sister Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.

But he takes priority in the British line as a result of differences in the two succession laws.

Norway changed its law in 1990 to absolute primogeniture (eldest child inherits regardless of gender). But it explicitly applied only to children born in 1990 or later and, since Ingrid Alexandra was born in 2004, her position as future queen stands.

The UK, meanwhile, transitioned to absolute primogeniture with the Succession to the Crown Act 2015 (effective 2013). but it applied only to persons born after October 28, 2011. Since both siblings were born before October 201, the British line of succession for the Norwegian royal descendants still follows the older male-preference primogeniture, placing the younger brother above his older sister.

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It's not just the Norwegian royals affected by the law. Princess Anne, the second child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, is behind her younger brothers in the line of succession due to male-preference primogeniture. 

And Lady Louise Windsor is also lower in the line of succession than her younger brother, James, Earl of Wessex, because the same succession rules were still in place when they were born.

Norway royals in mourning over two deaths

It's been a torrid time for the  Norwegian royal family. King Haakon has had to deal with the deaths of two close family members just two weeks apart.

First, his father, King Harald, passed away on 28 August aged 89 from a blood infection. He was laid to rest in a state funeral on 9 September. It was then that Harald's sister Princess Astrid made her final public appearance before her death just two days later.

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After the Norwegian royals announced the passing of Astrid on 11 September, Haakon issued an official statement paying tribute to his late aunt. 

His statement read: "Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner. At the age of 22, she had to step into the role of First Lady when my grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha, passed away. In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society. She was very loyal and always carried out her duties with commitment, presence and an infectious spirit.

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"Aunt Astrid was an important support for King Harald and the rest of us in the family. We learned a lot from her and she was not afraid to speak up. Her passing is a great loss for us. We will miss her. My family and I send warm thoughts to Aunt Astrid's closest friends."

Retrial for King Haakon's stepson over rape trial

Just months before Harald's passing, Marius Borg Høiby - son of Mette-Marit -  was sentenced to four years in prison, after being found guilty of two rapes, abuse in close relationships, and violence. 

He was acquitted of two additional rape charges involving other women. Of the 40 counts he originally faced, he was found guilty of 34.

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Since July, he has been out of jail and under house arrest at the royal estate of Skaugum, while his legal team appeals the sentencing. He was, however, permitted to visit the late King at the hospital before his death, as well as his state funeral.

He appealed the most serious convictions against him, including rape and domestic abuse, and has consistently denied wrongdoing. 

Now, the Court of Appeal has accepted his entire appeal, meaning he will get his case retried, with a full review of both rape cases and the domestic violence charge. 

His defense attorney Petar Sekulic told NRK: "As expected, the appeal has been accepted in full.

© Ragnar Singsaas/WireImage

"There is nothing about this case that is gratifying. But still, he is at least satisfied that the Court of Appeal has heard him here, and that they are allowing the case to be retried, as he has wished."

State attorney Sturla Henriksbø said: "A new hearing of the case will then be conducted based on approximately the same evidence that was presented to the district court for these matters, and which formed the basis for the district court's conviction."

While Marius is the son of Norway's new Queen Consort and the older brother of the heir to the Norwegian throne, he himself is not a member of the Royal House and does not hold a public role.