Norway's referendum in November 1905 was a crucial moment in its journey towards becoming an independent kingdom after centuries of political union with Sweden. Following the dissolution of the union in September of that year, the Norwegian parliament, known as the Storting, debated the future of the monarchy in a newly sovereign state. With the desire to establish a distinct national identity, the Storting proposed offering the throne to a candidate of their choosing, enabling the country to forge its own path distinct from Swedish influence.

To ensure that the decision reflected the will of the people, the Storting organized a referendum to gauge public support for this proposed monarchy. On November 12, the results indicated overwhelming approval among the Norwegian citizens, with approximately 79% of voters in favor of establishing a monarchy. This strong mandate illustrated a collective national sentiment for a monarchy to symbolize unity and stability for the newly independent nation.

The successful outcome of the referendum enabled the Storting to extend an official invitation to Prince Carl of Denmark, who would eventually accept and take the title King Haakon VII of Norway. This event laid the groundwork for Norway's future governance and social framework while instilling a sense of national pride among its citizenry. The choice of a Danish prince was seen as a further step towards reinstating traditional monarchic governance, contrasting the previous union with Sweden, which many Norwegians had come to view unfavorably.