| Sonja | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Sonja in 2017 | |
| Queen consort of Norway | |
| Tenure | 17 January 1991 – present |
| Benediction | 23 June 1991[a] |
| Born | Sonja Haraldsen (1937-07-04)4 July 1937 (age 88) Oslo, Norway |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | |
| House | Glücksburg (by marriage)[2] |
| Father | Karl August Haraldsen |
| Mother | Dagny Ulrichsen |
| Religion | Church of Norway |
| Alma mater |
|
| Norwegian royal family |
|---|
 |
| * Member of theNorwegian Royal House |
Sonja (bornSonja Haraldsen; 4 July 1937) isQueen of Norway as the wife of KingHarald V.[3]
Sonja and the then Crown Prince Harald had dated for nine years prior to their marriage in 1968. They had kept their relationship a secret due to the controversy of Sonja's status as acommoner. Harald had told his father, KingOlav V, that he would remain unmarried if his father did not grant consent to marry Sonja.[4] Upon their marriage, Sonja became crown princess and later the queen of Norway upon her husband's accession to the throne in 1991, becoming Norway's first queen consort in 52 years. The couple has two children together:Princess Märtha Louise andCrown Prince Haakon.
As queen, Sonja holds patronage of up to fifteen organisations.[5] Sonja has also served as Vice President of theNorwegian Red Cross from 1987 to 1990. In 2005, she became the first queen to visit Antarctica. In 2017, she was awarded the Trysil-Knut Prize, making her the first woman to receive the award. She is also known for her interest in music, art and culture, having founded theQueen Sonja International Music Competition and the Queen Sonja Print Award. She is also agraphic artist andceramicist, with many of her works being featured in exhibitions across Norway and other countries.[3]
Sonja Haraldsen was born on 4 July 1937 inOslo, the daughter of clothing merchant Karl August Haraldsen and Dagny Ulrichsen.[3] She had three siblings, Haakon Haraldsen,[6] Gry Henriksen and Karl Herman Haraldsen, who died in a boating accident.[7] She grew up at Tuengen Allé 1B in the district ofVinderen in Oslo and completed her lower secondary schooling in 1954. She received a diploma in dressmaking and tailoring at the Oslo Vocational School, and a diploma from École Professionnelle des Jeunes Filles (afinishing school) inLausanne,Switzerland. There, she studied accounting, fashion design, and social science. She returned to Norway for further studies and received an undergraduate degree (French,English andArt History) from theUniversity of Oslo.[3]
In June 1959 she first met Crown Prince Harald (the future King Harald V) at a party hosted by Johan H. Stenersen. Later in August the Crown Prince invited her to his graduation ball, where they were photographed together for the first time. They dated for nine years, although their relationship had been kept secret because she was a commoner.[3] The Crown Prince made it clear to his father, KingOlav V, that he would remain unmarried for life unless he could marry her.[8] This would in effect have put an end to the rule of his family, and likely to the monarchy in Norway, as Harald was the sole heir to the throne. Faced with having to choose one of his relatives from theDanish royal family, theDukes of Schleswig-Holstein or even theGrand Dukes of Oldenburg as his new heir in place of his son, Olav V consulted the government for advice; as a result, Sonja became engaged to Crown Prince Harald on 19 March 1968. The couple married on 29 August 1968, atOslo Cathedral. She thus acquired the style ofRoyal Highness and the title of Crown Princess of Norway.[3]
Following the death ofKing Olav V on 17 January 1991, Sonja became Norway's first queen consort in 52 years.[3] Queen Sonja accompaniedKing Harald V when he swore his oath to uphold the Constitution in theStorting on 21 January 1991. DuringHaakon VII of Norway's reign, his wifeQueen Maud died in 1938 and his son Olav V was then crown prince when his wifePrincess Märtha of Sweden died in 1954 before he became king three years later. It was also the first time in 69 years that a Norwegian queen had been present in the Storting. Since his accession, Queen Sonja has accompanied the King to the formal opening of the autumn session of the Storting and the reading of the Speech from the Throne.[3]
In accordance with their own wishes, the King and Queen wereconsecrated inNidaros Cathedral in Trondheim on 23 June 1991.[3] Following the consecration, the King and Queen conducted a 10-day tour of Southern Norway. In 1992, the entire royal family conducted a 22-day tour of Norway's four northernmost counties.[3]
The Queen accompanies the King on official state visits abroad. She acts as the hostess when foreign heads of state officially visit Norway.[3]
In 2005, Queen Sonja became the first queen ever to visitAntarctica.[3] The Queen was there to open the NorwegianTroll research station in the country's Antarctic dependency,Queen Maud Land. The Queen flew in on one of theRoyal Norwegian Air Force'sC-130H Herculestransport aircraft, landing atTroll Airfield.[3]
In 2017 Queen Sonja was awarded theTrysil-Knut Prize. She is the first woman to ever receive the award.[9]
The Queen was appointed a Rear Admiral in theRoyal Norwegian Navy and a Brigadier in theNorwegian Army. She has undergone a basic officer training course and has participated in exercises.[10][11]
On 17 January 2021, Queen Sonja celebrated 30 years asNorway's queen consort.[12]
In 1972, Sonja was involved in establishing Princess Märtha Louise's Fund, which provides assistance to disabled children in Norway. She has taken active part in large-scale initiatives to raise funds for international refugees and spent time in the 1970s visitingVietnamese boat refugees inMalaysia.[3]
From 1987 to 1990, Crown Princess Sonja served as Vice President of theNorwegian Red Cross. She was responsible for the organisation's international activities. She took part in a Red Cross delegation toBotswana andZimbabwe in 1989.[3]
Queen Sonja's School Award was established in 2006 and is awarded to schools who have "demonstrated excellence in its efforts to promote inclusion and equality".[3][13]
In 2021,Frank Rossavik said that now she is starting an [art] gallery, to sell works by artists that she has given her prestigious prizes to.[14]
Sonja established theQueen Sonja International Music Competition in 1988. It was originally for pianists, but in 1995 the competition became only for singers. The jury consists of diverse authoritative figures in opera and the winners receive a cash amount and prestigious engagements at Norwegian music institutions.[15][16]
She is a longtime avid photographer and has a keen interest in art.[17] She is aprintmaker, and held exhibitions with artistsKjell Nupen andØrnulf Opdahl in 2011 and 2013.[18] The Queen Sonja Nordic Art Award was established in 2011 with Tiina Kivinen from Finland being the first recipient in 2012. The prize will be awarded every other year.[19]
In 2017,The Queen Sonja Art Stable was opened, a venue which will function as a scene for arts and culture. Together with King Harald, the queen has for decades attempted to establish apalace museum inOslo.[20][21]
The Queen is a keen hiker, and this was marked by a sculpture unveiled for her 80th birthday as a gift from theNorwegian Trekking Association.[22]
In January 2025, Sonja was admitted toLillehammer Hospital for observation followingatrial fibrillation while on a skiing trip.[23] She underwent surgery at theOslo University Hospital on 16 January to receive apacemaker implant.[24] In April 2025, she was hospitalised at theNational Hospital due to shortness of breath.[25]
In 2025Amazon Prime Video released the period dramaThe Commoner, which tells the story of the fight of then Crown Prince Harald and Sonja Haraldsen for their right to marry. Queen Sonja of Norway is portrayed by Gina Bernhoft Gørvell.
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Spouse | |||
| Princess Märtha Louise | 22 September 1971 | 24 May 2002 Divorced 2017 | Ari Behn |
|
| 31 August 2024 | Durek Verrett | None | ||
| Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway | 20 July 1973 | 25 August 2001 | Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby |
|
In 1982 she was awarded theNansen Refugee Award. In 2007, she received theHolmenkollen medal withSimon Ammann,Frode Estil,Odd-Bjørn Hjelmeset, and her husband, King Harald V.
Queen Sonja also received an Honorary Doctorate fromHeriot-Watt University in 1994.[26]
Norway: Grand Cross with Collar of theRoyal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav °Norway: Grand Cross of theRoyal Norwegian Order of Merit °The Royal House Centenary Medal °Haakon VIIs Centenary Medal °Olav Vs Commemorative Medal of 30. January 1991 °Olav Vs Jubilee Medal 1957-1982 °Olav Vs Centenary Medal°Harald Vs Jubilee Medal 1991-2016 °Royal Family Order of King Olav V of Norway °Royal Family Order of King Harald V of Norway ° Norwegian Red Cross Badge of Honour °The Nansen Medal ° Oslo Military Society Badge of Honour in Gold °
Argentina: Grand Cross of theOrder of May °
Austria: Grand Star of theDecoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1978)[27] °
Belgium: Grand Cordon of theOrder of Leopold[28] °
Brazil: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Southern Cross °
Bulgaria: Sash of theOrder of the Balkan Mountains °
Chile: Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit °
Croatia: Recipient of theGrand Order of Queen Jelena (12 May 2011)[29]
Denmark: Knight of theOrder of the Elephant (12 February 1973)[30] °
Estonia: Member 1st Class of theOrder of the Cross of Terra Mariana (24 August 1998)[31] °Estonia: Member 1st Class of theOrder of the White Star (2 September 2014)[32]
Finland: Commander Grand Cross of theOrder of the White Rose of Finland[33] °
France:
Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany °
Greece: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Redeemer °
Hungary: Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Republic of Hungary °
IOC: Recipient of the GoldOlympic Order °
Iceland: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Falcon (21 October 1981)[34] °
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 October 2001)[35] °
Japan: Grand Cordon (Paulownia) of theOrder of the Precious Crown °[citation needed]
Jordan: Grand Cordon of theSupreme Order of the Renaissance ° (Order of Al-Nahda)
Latvia: Commander Grand Cross of theOrder of the Three Stars (2 September 1998)[36] °Latvia: Recipient of the 1st Class ofCross of Recognition (12 March 2015)[37] °
Lithuania: Grand Cross of theOrder of Vytautas the Great (3 September 1998)[38] °
Luxembourg: Grand Cross of theOrder of Adolph of Nassau °Luxembourg: Knight of theOrder of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau °
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of theOrder of the Netherlands Lion °Netherlands: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Crown °Netherlands: Recipient of Queen Beatrix's Inauguration Medal °
Poland: Knight of theOrder of the White Eagle °
Portugal: Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of Portugal (2 January 1981)[39] °Portugal: Grand Cross of theOrder of Infante Dom Henrique (13 February 2004)[39] °Portugal: Grand Cross of theOrder of Christ (26 May 2008)[39] °
Slovakia: Member 2nd Class of theOrder of the White Double Cross (2010)
Slovenia: Member of theOrder for Exceptional Merits (2011)[40] °
South Korea: Member 1st Class (Grand Gwanghwa Medal) of theOrder of Diplomatic Service Merit °
Spain: Dame Grand Cross of theOrder of Charles III (21 April 1995)[41] °Spain: Dame Grand Cross of theOrder of Isabella the Catholic (12 April 1982)[42] °
Sweden: Knight of theRoyal Order of the Seraphim[33] °Sweden: Recipient of the50th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (30 April 1996)Sweden: Recipient of theRuby Jubilee Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (15 September 2013)Sweden: Recipient of theGolden Jubilee Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (15 September 2023)Rem : The mark ° shows the honours mentioned on Queen Sonja'sofficial website page
Når dronning Sonja nå starter eget galleri for å selge verk av kunstnere hun har gitt sine prestisjetunge priser til, [...]
| Norwegian royalty | ||
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| Vacant Title last held by Maud of Wales | Queen consort of Norway 1991–present | Incumbent |
Generations are numbered from the ascension ofHaakon VII as King of Norway in 1905. | ||
| 1st generation |  | |
| 2nd generation | ||
| 3rd generation | ||
| 4th generation | ||
1Princess of Norway by marriage 2Lost her title as Norwegian princess by birth before the ascension of Haakon VII to the throne | ||
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