The Royal Forums Coat of Arms


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
  #1  
Old 07-30-2005, 10:47 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
1905-2005, September biography: Sonja

Her Majesty, Queen Sonja of Norway, was born on July 4th, 1937 as Sonja Haraldsen. She was the youngest of Karl August and Dagny Haraldsen’s four children. The Haraldsen family, Karl August, Dagny, Haakon (b.1921), Gry (b. 1924) and Sonja, lived on Vindern in Oslo. Sonja’s other brother, Karl Herman (b. 1929), died the year before she was born.

As Gry and Haakon were so much older than Sonja, she was practically raised as an only child and she was perhaps a bit spoiled as a result. She spent much time with the neighbour’s children playing in the sandbox or with dolls. During the German occupation of Norway, Sonja really felt like an only child. Her brother, Haakon, fled to Sweden to avoid the German work-service. Her sister, Gry, was arrested for a minor transgression when she got involved with an illegal business, then she escaped to Sweden when she was released. But Sonja’s mother promised that her older brother and sister would bring back bubble gum for Sonja when they could return, so little Sonja was looking forward to the end of the war.

Sonja started school during the occupation and joined the girl scout movement. Dressed in her uniform, she was part of the crowd that welcomed the Royal family home after their exile. She wanted to see the King and the Crown Princess, like so many others on that day.

The Haraldsen family celebrated Easter in the Norwegian mountains while summers were spent in their cabin at Tjøme, so Sonja developed an early fondness for nature that she has become known for in recent years. She skied and she sailed, but her parents did not give her permission to do more dangerous things. The loss of the brother that Sonja never knew made them more protective of Sonja. But in 1950, she was allowed to go to a sailing camp for youngsters at Hankø. She enjoyed spending time with people her own age, and one day Prince Harald came from behind and pulled her scarf. It was a few years before they met again.

As Sonja grew up, she became fond of knitting and sewing and she began making her own clothes and she also knitted for several of her friends. When she tired of highschool and schoolwork, she applied to Oslo Yrkesskole to learn dress making and tailoring. At the school, she joined sports teams in every discipline, including ski-jumping.

After a year there, 17-year old Sonja went to Switzerland to attend a fashion school. Why Switzerland? «I can ski there, and that’s the best I know, aside from sewing.» She spent two years in Switzerland where she learned French and spent a lot of time on the slopes competing in the Slalom.

Intending to join her father’s clothing store business, she began studying trade and economics in 1957, though she decided to spend the next year in Cambridge to learn English and have some fun. She joined Cambridge Water-Ski Club, being one of the few female members. During the summer, she worked a bit at one of the pubs in town and celebrated her 21st birthday alone in the back room of the pub, reading letters from home. Sonja stayed at Cambridge for a year, before returning to Oslo to work at the family store.

But, as Sonja herself has said: «After a short period of time, I’d cleaned and organised the store several times, and had become antsy. I needed something else to do.» Any plans she might’ve entertained were thwarted by her father’s sudden and unexpected death in 1959. From that point, Sonja spent the next months home as company for her mother, taking care of the garden and the car. She said no to every party invitation she got, except for one, when her mother urged her to get out. At that party, she met Crown Prince Harald, again.

From then on, they met from time to time and Harald invited her to the graduating ball of the military academy he was attending. There, one lucky photographer managed to take the first snapshot of them together. The romance escalated and yet, very little was written in the press. Their circle of friends and some family members knew of the romance, but nobody said a peep. Everyone tried to keep it hidden longer.

There were some stories and the foreign press didn’t have the same discretion as that of the Norwegian press. Foreign press-photographers showed up at Sonja's school and followed her everywhere. After an extremely taxing period, Sonja escaped to France.

During the last year of their secret relationship, Sonja and Harald rarely spent any time together in Norway. But nine years after the initial meeting at the party, on March 19 1968, King Olav finally gave his approval to the match, and the engagement was announced.

There was a great debate on the radio and in the newspapers on the future of the monarchy, how a girl of the people could get approval to marry the Crown Prince. Many called it the end of the monarchy.

But Sonja and Harald persevered. They married in a ceremony in Oslo Cathedral on August 29 1968. The honeymooners went to Brazil, Mexico and Hawaii.

After the fairy tale wedding, the Crown Prince and the new Crown Princess settled into Skaugum and to an everyday life that included journeys all over the world to meet people.

Sonja suffered through a miscarriage before Märtha Louise came into the world in 1971. With the addition of Haakon Magnus in 1973, the family was complete.

Her private role was perhaps easier to adapt to than her public role. As her mother-in-law had passed away more than a decade before, the role as Norway’s first lady, which had been Princess Astrid's since then, fell onto the Crown Princess. The Norwegian monarchy was, at the time, dominated by men, and manly men, at that. Sonja began to alter that with her interest in art and languages. She admitted on several occasions that her first years as a Crown Princess weren’t easy and when her son married, she did her best so that her daughter-in-law, would have it easier than she had it.

Sonja also managed to get some studying done between her royal duties and has obtained a degree in French, English and Art History from the University of Oslo.

From 1987 to 1990 she was the vice president of the Norwegian Red Cross. She also worked much with the situation of refugees and immigrants.

In 1991, King Olav passed away and Harald became King of Norway, with Sonja as his Queen. The official blessing ceremony took place in Nidarosdomen with a following round-trip of Norway, just as their predecessors had done when they ascended to the throne.

In the years since the ascension, the King and Queen have worked hard for Norway, both in and ouside of the country. Sonja played a large part in the cultural aspects of 1994 Olympics at Lillehammer and the Paralympics. The monarchs have gone on numerous state visits and they have received numerous dignitaries in Norway.

Queen Sonja is interested in art and culture, skiing (she is a trained ski-instructor), sports and decorating. She also spends time taking trips, either by foot, or on skis, in the Norwegian mountains, and usually starts her day with a quick run.

Among her protectorates are: The Norwegian Cancer Society, The Norwegian Opera, The Norwegian Sports for the Handicapped Society and The Norwegian Red Cross.

Sources: http://www.kongehuset.no/
"Sonja - Norges Kronprinsesse"
Haagen Ringnes - "Samtaler med Dronningen"
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 09-03-2005, 12:40 PM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
Random threads of interest:
Wedding and Engagement thread
Harald & Sonja - Early pictures
Harald & Sonja's Silver Anniversary
Harald & Sonja News thread 2002-2003
Sonja's Jewelry
Harald & Sonja's visit to the United States 2005


Following pictures are scanned from the books:
"Sonja - Norges Kronprinsesse", 1983,
"Signingsferden," 1991,
"Kongefamiliens Årbok" (1988/89 & 1991/92),
"Harald og Sonja - Norges Kronprinspar", 1968
"Samtaler med Dronningen," 1997.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 09-03-2005, 12:42 PM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
Little Sonja in 1937:

Anybody notice a similarity to Ingrid Alexandra?

Sonja in 1940:


Sonja with older brother and sister:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 09-03-2005, 12:46 PM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
Sonja, the girl-scout, ca. 1945:


Ca. 1945-46:


1947:


1951:Sonja also enjoys sailing:


1953, Sonja in her first real ball gown, at the time of her confirmation:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 09-04-2005, 10:21 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
Sonja in 1955:


Sonja and her friend, Tessa, in front of the Matterhorn in 1956:


Sonja in 1956:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 09-04-2005, 10:24 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
1957, Punting in Cambridge:


1957, with sister, Gry, at Tjøme:


Sonja, in 1959, looking at Harald's grades from the Military Academy:


Sonja & Harald in 1959, at Harald's graduation ball:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 09-04-2005, 10:27 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
1967, on a quick trip to Cambridge to get away from the Norwegian press:


1968. engagement:



1968, Sonja's first public engagement:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 09-04-2005, 10:30 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
1968, official wedding photograph:


1970, skiing with Harald:


1971, portrait:


1971, mother and daughter:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 09-04-2005, 10:33 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
1971, proud parents at Märtha Louise's christening:


1972, photoshoot at Skaugum:


1973, mother and son:


1973, mother and son return from hospital, Märtha Louise greets them:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 09-04-2005, 10:37 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
1975, Harald and Sonja going fishing:


1976, study-trip to Florence, Italy:


1979, meeting refugees in Kuala Lumpur:


1981, going to a gala in Paris:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 09-04-2005, 10:41 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
1981, official photo:


1982, trip to Greenland, with Prince Henrik of Denmark, Queen Margrethe of Denmark and, then, President of Iceland, Vigdis Finnbogadóttir:


1988, picture of the family:
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 09-04-2005, 10:44 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
1989, going on ski-trip with Queen Margrethe and guide:


1991, official photo in Trondheim around the ascension:


1992, attending a silver wedding in Denmark:


1997, portrait from "Samtaler med Dronningen" (Talks with the Queen)
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 09-05-2005, 06:56 AM
Commoner
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: LEON, Spain
Posts: 11
queen sonja

Good work, norwegianne, I have liked much, the album of photos, queen Sonia was a very handsome girl, by the way if the mother of Sonia worked in a the real palace of Oslo like costurera, (I create to understand), Harald already conocia to Sonia to possibly see it by the palace accompanying its mother, you do not create?
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-05-2005, 08:31 AM
LaMinka's Avatar
Royal Highness
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bergen, Norway
Posts: 1,862
Wow Norwegianne! Thanks for all the info and the pictures. Sonja wa sa really butiful teenager and child. Ingdrid Alexandra look so much like her grandma!
__________________
So I’ll stand With arms high and heart abandoned In awe of the One who gave it all. My soul to You surrendered, All I am is Yours.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 09-05-2005, 09:17 AM
norwegianne's Avatar
Majesty
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Rogaland, Norway
Posts: 6,043
Quote:
Originally Posted by nat127
Good work, norwegianne, I have liked much, the album of photos, queen Sonia was a very handsome girl, by the way if the mother of Sonia worked in a the real palace of Oslo like costurera, (I create to understand), Harald already conocia to Sonia to possibly see it by the palace accompanying its mother, you do not create?
I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to convey here... Sonja's mother hasn't worked at the palace.
__________________
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 09-05-2005, 02:27 PM
iowabelle's Avatar
Royal Highness
Royal Blogger, TRF Author
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Des Moines, United States
Posts: 2,403
In some of the pictures the Queen looks very much like Martha Louise. The Queen was a very pretty young woman, no wonder Harald liked her.
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 06-15-2006, 02:00 PM
Her_Majesty's Avatar
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Munich, Germany
Posts: 8,620
Queen Sonja was a really beautiful young woman! (and she still is )
Does anyone have some more pictures of the Queen? (I think there's no Picture thread, so you could post them here :) )

I have a question about the stillbirthes of Sonja (very sad to hear :( )
Have the pregnancys already been officially announced when it happened?
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 02-01-2008, 04:31 PM
Her_Majesty's Avatar
Moderator Emeritus
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Munich, Germany
Posts: 8,620
Many beautiful pictures of Sonja's Life:
Dronningens liv i bilder - KK : Kultur & Underholdning

I love picture 6, which shows Sonja and Harald buying their engagement rings .
Picture 15 is great too! (just a few later after this pic was taken Haakon was born)
__________________
Have a look at TRF Rules and FAQ



Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 10-08-2008, 04:57 PM
Commoner
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: lauderdale lakes, United States
Posts: 25
i dont really understand norway about the debate does anyone has more information about this ''debate''when sonja was engage to the crown prince .Harald was being unreasonable all he care about at that time was to marry her he never seem to care how his subject will react and he does the same things in 2001 and 2002 when put his children happiness before his duty. duty-first, self-second [QUOTE
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 10-09-2008, 12:11 AM
Maura724's Avatar
Courtier
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: St. Louis, United States
Posts: 775
Oh, I don't think so at all. Harald did put duty first, that's why he and Sonja waited 9 years for the approval of King Olav and the Storting before they married. And he never refused to do his duty and stay in line for the throne - I don't think there was ever any question of his giving up his succession rights - he just told his father that he wouldn't ever marry anyone else because he couldn't ever love any other woman as much as he loved Sonja. I think it's a beautiful love story, especially when you consider how great their love must have been to have lasted so long with no guarantee of ever being allowed to marry.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Official Visit from Norway to Sweden: September 1-2, 2005 GrandDuchess Royal House of Sweden 135 09-15-2005 06:01 AM
September 2005 Newsletter: Featuring Princess Lilian of Sweden GrandDuchess Forum Announcements and Admin 16 08-30-2005 11:42 AM
Harald & Sonja Visit the United States 2005 pdas1201 King Harald and Queen Sonja 38 03-08-2005 04:00 PM




Popular Tags
#princedubai #rashidmrm abolished monarchies all tags america arcadie arcadie claret bevilacqua british caribbean caroline charles iii claret current events danish royal family defunct thrones duarte pio edward vii elizabeth ii emperor naruhito fabio bevilacqua fallen empires genealogy general news grace kelly grimaldi hamdan bin ahmed harry history hollywood hotel room for sale house of gonzaga introduction jewels jordan royal family king king charles king willem-alexander mall coronation day matrilineal monaco monarchy need help new zealand; cyclone gabrielle official visit order of precedence order of the redeemer pamela hicks portugal preferences prince christian princess of orange queen queen camilla queen elizabeth ii queen ena of spain queen margrethe ii queen mathilde queen maxima republics restoration royal without thrones silk spain spanish royal family state visit to germany switzerland tiaras visit william


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:40 AM.

Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2023
Jelsoft Enterprises