I've always heard that it was Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark (Queen Sofia of Spain) that was intended for Harald of Norway. Which is correct?
Dagbladet - reporting stories from older editions, news taken from non-Norwegian newspapers, as the Norwegian newspapers didn't directly comment on the love-life of the CP. /completely different when they could report what other newspapers were saying/... :
"CP Harald has fallen for the beautiful Sophia of the house Schleswig-Holstein Sonderburg-Glücksburg. Princess of Greece nad Denmark. The newspapers write that the two have repeatedly been observed together - on the beach and sailing. "When they said goodbye, she cried.""
"It is claimed that the two have become secretly engaged, but the public announcement isn't coming. The summer 1960 Harald visits Greece again, and before Christmas, the Norwegian people can read that something is being written about a possible engagement in the British press.
The Palace informs that there is nothing in the rumours, but aren't believed until the engagement between Sophia and Juan Carlos is announced."
Later: "Crown Prince Harald has fallen for Sophia's little sister Irene. "The engagement is close," Greek newspapers write in Nobember 1962. "There is no secret that Harald has shown a great interest in princess Irene, while her parents are looking at the prospect with great pleasure." A picture where Harald kisses Irene goodbye at the airport in Athens allegedly confirms the rumours. No public confirmation comes from the palace, and the rumours die."
"Later the same year, he is being matched with Princess Tatjana of Poland and Lithuania. The year after, the Danish newspapers can report that he's been seen at a cinema in the Copenhagen area with danish Princess Benedikte. The rumours are being denied by the Danish court, stating that it's just free imagination at play. The speculations don't stop until Princess Benedikte's engagement to Prince Richard is announced."
Saken Sonja - Portrettet - Dagbladet.no
