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Queen Sonja of Norway facts for kids

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Sonja
H.M. Queen Sonja Oslo Jazzfestival 2017 (181611) (cropped).jpg
Sonja in 2017
Queen consort of Norway
Tenure 17 January 1991 – present
Benediction 23 June 1991
Born Sonja Haraldsen
(1937-07-04) 4 July 1937 (age 88)
Oslo, Norway
Spouse
​
(m. 1968)​
Issue
House Glücksburg (by marriage)
Father Karl August Haraldsen
Mother Dagny Ulrichsen
Religion Church of Norway
Alma mater
  • Universitetet i Oslo (cand. mag.)


Queen Sonja (born Sonja Haraldsen on July 4, 1937) is the Queen of Norway. She is married to King Harald V.

Sonja and Harald dated for nine years before they married in 1968. Their relationship was a secret because Sonja was a "commoner." This means she was not born into a royal family. Harald told his father, King Olav V, that he would not marry anyone else. After they married, Sonja became the Crown Princess. She became Queen of Norway in 1991 when Harald became King. She was the first Queen of Norway in 52 years. They have two children: Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon.

As Queen, Sonja supports many organizations. She was also Vice President of the Norwegian Red Cross from 1987 to 1990. In 2005, she was the first queen to visit Antarctica. In 2017, she received the Trysil-Knut Prize. She was the first woman to get this award. Queen Sonja 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 many exhibitions.

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. She grew up in Oslo and finished her early schooling in 1954.

She earned a diploma in dressmaking and tailoring. She also studied accounting, fashion design, and social science in Lausanne, Switzerland. Later, she returned to Norway. She studied French, English, and Art History at the University of Oslo.

Marriage to the Crown Prince

In June 1959, Sonja met Crown Prince Harald for the first time. He was the future King Harald V. They met at a party and were later photographed together. They dated for nine years. Their relationship was kept secret because Sonja was not royal.

The Crown Prince told his father, King Olav V, that he would not marry if he could not marry Sonja. This was a big deal because Harald was the only heir to the throne. If he didn't marry, his family's rule might end. King Olav V talked with the government. On March 19, 1968, Sonja and Crown Prince Harald became engaged. They married on August 29, 1968, at Oslo Cathedral. After her marriage, she became the Crown Princess of Norway.

Public Life as Queen

Queen Sonja of Norway in 2015
Sonja in Stockholm for Prince Carl Philip's wedding, 2015

When King Olav V passed away on January 17, 1991, Sonja became Norway's first Queen 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 a Norwegian Queen was present in the Storting. Since then, Queen Sonja has joined the King for the opening of the Parliament's autumn session.

The King and Queen wanted to be blessed in a special ceremony. This happened at Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim on June 23, 1991. After this, they traveled for 10 days in Southern Norway. In 1992, the whole royal family toured Norway's four northernmost counties for 22 days.

The Queen travels with the King on official visits to other countries. She also welcomes foreign leaders when they visit Norway.

Special Achievements

In 2005, Queen Sonja made history. She became the first queen to visit Antarctica. She went there to open the Norwegian Troll research station. This station is in Queen Maud Land, which is Norway's territory in Antarctica. The Queen flew there on a Royal Norwegian Air Force transport plane.

In 2017, Queen Sonja received the Trysil-Knut Prize. She was the first woman ever to be given this award.

The Queen has also been given military ranks. She is a Rear Admiral in the Royal Norwegian Navy and 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, Sonja helped create 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 refugees in Malaysia.

From 1987 to 1990, Crown Princess Sonja was 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 started in 2006. It is given to schools that do a great job of making sure everyone feels included and treated equally.

Personal Hobbies and Interests

Sonja started the Queen Sonja International Music Competition in 1988. At first, it was for pianists. In 1995, it changed to be only for singers. The winners get money and chances to perform in Norway.

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. The Queen Sonja Nordic Art Award was created 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. A sculpture was made for her 80th birthday. It was a gift from the Norwegian Trekking Association to honor her love for hiking.

Health Updates

In January 2025, Queen Sonja was taken to Lillehammer Hospital. This was for observation after she had an irregular heartbeat while skiing. She had surgery at the Oslo University Hospital on January 16 to get a pacemaker implanted. A pacemaker is a small device that helps regulate the heart's rhythm. In April 2025, she was hospitalized again due to shortness of breath.

Royal Children

Name Birth Marriage Children
Date Spouse
Princess Märtha Louise 22 September 1971 24 May 2002
Divorced 2017		 Ari Behn
    • Maud Angelica Behn, born 29 April 2003
    • Leah Isadora Behn, born 8 April 2005
    • Emma Tallulah Behn, born 29 September 2008
31 August 2024 Durek Verrett None
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway 20 July 1973 25 August 2001 Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby

Images for kids

Awards and Honors

Queen Sonja has received many awards and honors from Norway and other countries.

In 1982, she received the Nansen Refugee Award. In 2007, she was given the Holmenkollen medal along with her husband, King Harald V, and other athletes.

She also received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1994.

Norwegian Honors

  • 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 Honors

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sonia de Noruega para niños

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