The biography of Queen Sonja
Sonja Haraldsen was born in Oslo on 4 July 1937. She married the then Crown Prince Harald on 29 August 1968 and became Crown Princess and later Queen of Norway.
Miss Sonja Haraldsen grew up in Oslo with her parents, Dagny and Karl August Haraldsen. She first met the then Crown Prince Harald in 1959. It was not until nine years later, however, that she and the Crown Prince were given permission to marry. In March 1968 it was announced that King Olav had given his consent for the Crown Prince to marry a commoner.
The engagement triggered a debate regarding the future of the monarchy in Norway, but there was far less resistance to the idea of the Crown Prince choosing a commoner to be his wife than many had feared. The Norwegian people immediately accepted Crown Princess Sonja as a member of the Royal Family.
The wedding was held in Oslo Cathedral on 29 August 1968, and Miss Sonja Haraldsen became the Crown Princess of Norway.
Norway's First Lady - and Queen
Crown Princess Sonja succeeded Princess Astrid as Norway’s First Lady after the wedding in 1968.
On 17 January 1991, King Olav V died and Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja became Norway’s new King and Queen. Queen Sonja accompanied King Harald when he took his oath to the Constitution in the Storting on 21 January 1991. For the first time in 69 years, a Queen was present in the Storting Chamber. Queen Sonja continued to accompany King Harald when he presided over the ceremonial opening of the Storting each autumn.
In accordance with King Harald's wishes, Queen Sonja was included in the consecration ceremony in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. Together, they helped shape the consecration prayers that were used.
Queen Sonja remained Queen of Norway until the death of King Harald on 28 August 2026, when Their Majesties King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit became Norway’s new King and Queen.
Older portraits of Queen Sonja
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Queen Sonja's education
Education
In 1944, Sonja Haraldsen began attending Roll and Ihlen’s School in Oslo. She continued at Slemdal School, receiving her school-leaving certificate in 1951. Sonja Haraldsen completed her lower secondary school education at Ris School in 1954.
She received a diploma in dressmaking and tailoring at the Oslo Vocational School, and went on to receive a diploma from École Professionelle des Jeunes Filles in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1957. Her studies there included social science, accounting and fashion design.
In 1961, Sonja Haraldsen completed her examen artium as an external candidate in English at Bjørknes Private School. After passing exams in intermediate English in 1964, intermediate French in 1967, and primary art history in 1971, she earned her degree of cand. mag. (Bachelor of Arts) from the University of Oslo.
Queen Sonja is a certified ski instructor.
Children and Grandchildren
King Harald and Queen Sonja have two children and six grandchildren. Princess Märtha Louise was born on September 22 in 1971, and the later King Haakon on July 20 in 1973.
Kong Harald and Queen Sonja embraced their roles as grandparents in 2001 when then Crown Princess Mette-Marit joined the family with her son, Marius Borg Høiby. Princess Ingrid Alexandra was born on January 21, 2004, as the second in the line of succession after her father, and in 2005, Prince Sverre Magnus was born.
Princess Märtha Louise has three daughters from her first marriage: Maud Angelica Behn was born in 2003, followed by Leah Isadora in 2005 and Emma Tallulah in 2008. In 2024, Princess Märtha Louise married American Durek Verrett.
Nature and cultural interest
In Norway, Queen Sonja is renowned for her interest in nature, outdoor recreation and the environment. There is scarcely a place in the country she has not visited. Several hiking trails and nature paths in Norway bear her name, and she is an honorary member of the Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT).
Queen Sonja is particularly interested in art and culture, as a breathing space, and for inspiration. From a young age, she has been an active art collector, and in recent years Queen Sonja has become a graphic artist and ceramicist. Over the years, she has visited numerous churches, museums, galleries and exhibitions, and she is a strong advocate for cultural heritage protection and traditional craftsmanship.
The Hiking Queen
Alongside her many official duties, Queen Sonja has maintained an active lifestyle.
