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In the wake of the death of King Harald, some of the information on this website will need to be updated in the time to come.

Queen of Norway

Her Majesty Queen Mette-Marit succeeded Queen Sonja as Queen of Norway when His Majesty King Haakon VIII acceded to the throne following the death of King Harald.

King Haakon and Queen Mette-Marit will represent Norway at home and abroad and promote Norwegian interests – including through state visits and by hosting foreign heads of state when they visit Norway.

Official duties

Queen Mette-Marit is invited to events across a wide range of fields, and has taken a particular interest in literature, mental health, young people, social exclusion and crafts.

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess’s Fund was established to mark their marriage in 2001. The fund supports initiatives for young people at risk of social exclusion and celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2026.

The foundation's 20th anniversary was celebrated at Skaugum in 2021. Young people from the foundation's current and former projects took part in the celebrations. Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB

Literature and culture

Queen Mette-Marit is a strong advocate for reading and literature. Through her own literary train and numerous visits to libraries and schools, she has helped to put literature on the agenda in Norway. In 2017, the Queen took on the role of ambassador for Norwegian literature abroad. She has attended international literary events, including in Frankfurt and Cairo, where Norway has been the guest country.

Advocate for literature

Queen Mette-Marit loves to read and is enthusiastic about books. Among her initiatives is the establishment of the literary train tour, which has, over several years, travelled across Norway, creating meeting places for authors, librarians, schoolchildren, and local communities. Photo: Amanda Pedersen Giske / NTB
The then Crown Princess opens the major Frankfurt Book Fair, reading “It is that dream / Det er den draumen” by the Norwegian poet Olav H. Hauge. Photo: Frank Rumpenhorst / dpa / AFP / NTB

– I cannot imagine a life without books. Ever since I was a child, I have been read to and given the opportunity to enter a world of fantasy. The act of reading, the internal images it creates, the emotions it evokes – I believe this makes us better, wiser, and more thoughtful persons.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Bjørnson Festival 2014

Following Jon Fosse’s receipt of the Nobel Prize in Literature, the Norwegian Government established the annual Fosse Lecture and the Fosse Prize for Translators in his honour. The event is organised by the National Library of Norway, and the Queen is Patron of both the lecture and the prize.

In April 2025, the very first Fosse Prize was awarded and the inaugural Fosse Lecture was held at the Royal Palace.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit in conversation with Jon Fosse before presenting the first Fosse Prize to the German translator Hinrich Schmidt-Henkel at an event at the Royal Palace. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB

Young people and mental health

Queen Mette-Marit has a strong and longstanding commitment to mental health, with a particular focus on young people and inclusion. Since 2002, she has been Patron of the Norwegian Council for Mental Health, using her role to highlight the importance of openness, community and coping.

She has regularly attended events and meetings with professionals, organisations and young people who share their experiences. The Queen seeks to contribute to greater understanding and less stigma surrounding mental health challenges.

Commitment

Queen Mette-Marit was a Special Representative for the United Nations AIDS programme and worked to strengthen youth leadership in the global response to AIDS, as here at the International AIDS Conference in Vienna in 2010. Photo: Herwig Prammer / REUTERS / NT
As Crown Prince and Crown Princess, the King and Queen have hosted guests at Skaugum on official occasions. Here, the then Crown Princess welcomes guests to the annual reception at Skaugum, which in 2024 focused on young people’s mental health. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB
Queen Mette-Marit has a strong commitment to climate and the environment. Here, she is clearing up rubbish washed ashore at Bogosen in Nordland. Photo: Lise Åserud, NTB
The Queen worked on HIV and AIDS issues for many years and served as a Special Representative for UNAIDS for several years. Here, during a visit to Tanzania. Photo: Christian Lagaard, The Royal Court

International involvement

Queen Mette-Marit has had a broad international engagement for many years. In 2006, she was appointed Special Representative for UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, and has worked to combat discrimination and stigma associated with HIV and AIDS around the world.

For many years, the Queen regularly attended international AIDS conferences and other forums relating to global health issues.