Queen Sonja of Norway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sonja |
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Sonja in 2012
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| Queen consort of Norway | |
| Tenure | 17 January 1991 – present |
| Benediction | 23 June 1991 |
| Born | Sonja Haraldsen 4 July 1937 Oslo, Norway |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | |
| House | Glücksburg (by marriage) |
| Father | Karl August Haraldsen |
| Mother | Dagny Ulrichsen |
Sonja (born Sonja Haraldsen; 4 July 1937) is the Queen of Norway. She is married to King Harald V.
Sonja and Harald, who was then the Crown Prince, dated for nine years. They kept their relationship a secret because Sonja was a "commoner." This meant she was not born into a royal family. Harald told his father, King Olav V, that he would not marry anyone else if he couldn't marry Sonja.
They married in 1968. Sonja became the Crown Princess. When her husband became king in 1991, she became the Queen of Norway. She was the first queen consort in Norway in 52 years. They have two children: Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon.
As Queen, Sonja supports many organizations. She was also the Vice President of the Norwegian Red Cross from 1987 to 1990. In 2005, she was the first queen to visit Antarctica. In 2017, she won the Trysil-Knut Prize, being the first woman to get it. She loves music, art, and culture. She started the Queen Sonja International Music Competition and the Queen Sonja Print Award. She is also a graphic artist and ceramicist. Her artworks have been shown in Norway and other countries.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Sonja Haraldsen was born on July 4, 1937, in Oslo, Norway. Her father, Karl August Haraldsen, was a clothing merchant. Her mother was Dagny Ulrichsen. Sonja had three siblings: Haakon, Gry, and Karl Herman.
She grew up in Oslo and finished her lower secondary school in 1954. She learned dressmaking and tailoring at the Oslo Vocational School. She also studied at a special school in Lausanne, Switzerland. There, she learned about accounting, fashion design, and social science. Later, she returned to Norway. She earned a degree from the University of Oslo in French, English, and Art History.
Marriage to the Crown Prince
Sonja first met Crown Prince Harald (who would become King Harald V) in June 1959. It was at a party. Later that year, they were photographed together at his graduation ball. They dated for nine years, keeping their relationship a secret. This was because Sonja was not royal.
Crown Prince Harald made it clear to his father, King Olav V, that he would only marry Sonja. If he didn't, he would never marry. This was a big deal because Harald was the only heir to the throne. If he didn't marry and have children, his family's rule in Norway could end.
After thinking about it, King Olav V talked with the government. On March 19, 1968, Sonja and Crown Prince Harald got engaged. They married on August 29, 1968, at Oslo Cathedral. After their marriage, Sonja became the Crown Princess of Norway.
Life as Queen
When King Olav V passed away on January 17, 1991, Sonja became Norway's first queen consort in 52 years. Queen Sonja joined King Harald V when he promised to follow the Constitution. This happened in the Storting (the Norwegian Parliament) on January 21, 1991. It was the first time in 69 years that a Norwegian queen was present in the Storting. Since then, Queen Sonja has joined the King for the opening of the Parliament each autumn.
On June 23, 1991, the King and Queen had a special ceremony. They were consecrated in Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim. After this, they traveled for 10 days through Southern Norway. In 1992, the whole royal family toured Norway's northern counties for 22 days.
The Queen often travels with the King on official visits to other countries. She also welcomes leaders from other countries when they visit Norway.
In 2005, Queen Sonja made history. She became the first queen to visit Antarctica. She was there to open the Norwegian Troll research station. This station is in Queen Maud Land, a part of Antarctica claimed by Norway. The Queen flew there on a Royal Norwegian Air Force plane.
In 2017, Queen Sonja received the Trysil-Knut Prize. She was the first woman ever to get this award.
The Queen has also been given military ranks. She is a Rear Admiral in the Royal Norwegian Navy. She is also a Brigadier in the Norwegian Army. She has even taken a basic officer training course.
On January 17, 2021, Queen Sonja celebrated 30 years as Norway's queen.
Queen Sonja's Activities
In 1972, Queen Sonja helped start Princess Märtha Louise's Fund. This fund helps children with disabilities in Norway. She has also worked to raise money for refugees around the world. In the 1970s, she visited Vietnamese boat refugees in Malaysia.
From 1987 to 1990, Crown Princess Sonja was the Vice President of the Norwegian Red Cross. She was in charge of their international work. She visited Botswana and Zimbabwe with the Red Cross in 1989.
The Queen Sonja's School Award was created in 2006. It is given to schools that do a great job of including everyone and promoting fairness.
In 2021, it was announced that Queen Sonja was starting an art gallery. It would sell works by artists she had given awards to.
Personal Interests and Hobbies
Sonja started the Queen Sonja International Music Competition in 1988. At first, it was for pianists. But in 1995, it became a competition only for singers. The winners receive money and chances to perform at Norwegian music places.
She loves photography and has a strong interest in art. She is also a printmaker. She has shown her art in exhibitions with other artists in 2011 and 2013. The Queen Sonja Nordic Art Award was started in 2011. It is given out every two years.
In 2017, The Queen Sonja Art Stable opened. This is a place for art and culture. For many years, the Queen and King Harald have wanted to create a palace museum in Oslo.
The Queen enjoys hiking. To celebrate her 80th birthday, the Norwegian Trekking Association gave her a sculpture.
Health Update
In January 2025, Queen Sonja went to Lillehammer Hospital. This was after she had an irregular heartbeat while skiing. She had surgery at the Oslo University Hospital on January 16. She received a pacemaker to help her heart.
Children
| Name | Born | Marriage | Children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Spouse | |||
| Princess Märtha Louise | 22 September 1971 | 24 May 2002 Divorced 2017 |
Ari Behn |
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| 31 August 2024 | Durek Verrett | None | ||
| Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway | 20 July 1973 | 25 August 2001 | Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby |
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Images for kids
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Coat of arms of Queen Sonja
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Queen Sonja's Royal Monogram
Awards and Honours
Queen Sonja has received many awards and honours from Norway and other countries.
- In 1982, she received the Nansen Refugee Award for her work with refugees.
- In 2007, she received the Holmenkollen medal for her contributions to skiing, along with her husband, King Harald V.
- She also has an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University (1994).
Norwegian Honours
- Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav
- Grand Cross of the Royal 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
International Honours
Queen Sonja has also received many honours from other countries, including:
- Grand Cross of the Order of May (Argentina)
- Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (Austria)
- Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil)
- Sash of the Order of the Balkan Mountains (Bulgaria)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Chile)
- Recipient of the Grand Order of Queen Jelena (Croatia)
- Knight of the Order of the Elephant (Denmark)
- Member 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (Estonia)
- Member 1st Class of the Order of the White Star (Estonia)
- Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland (Finland)
- Grand Cross of the Ordre national du Mérite (France)
- Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Germany)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (Greece)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (Hungary)
- Gold Olympic Order (International Olympic Committee)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (Iceland)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italy)
- Grand Cordon (Paulownia) of the Order of the Precious Crown (Japan)
- Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (Jordan)
- Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars (Latvia)
- Recipient of the 1st Class of Cross of Recognition (Latvia)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great (Lithuania)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Adolph of Nassau (Luxembourg)
- Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau (Luxembourg)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (Netherlands)
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (Netherlands)
- Recipient of Queen Beatrix's Inauguration Medal (Netherlands)
- Knight of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Portugal (Portugal)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique (Portugal)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal)
- Member 2nd Class of the Order of the White Double Cross (Slovakia)
- Member of the Order for Exceptional Merits (Slovenia)
- Member 1st Class (Grand Gwanghwa Medal) of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit (South Korea)
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (Spain)
- Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (Spain)
- Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim (Sweden)
- Recipient of the 50th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (Sweden)
- Recipient of the Ruby Jubilee Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (Sweden)
- Recipient of the Golden Jubilee Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf (Sweden)
