Originally posted by norwegianne@Jan 7th, 2004 - 10:43 am
From the official biographies I've read they were introduced by a mutal friend at a party Sonja hadn't even intended to attend, since her father had recently passed away.
Some time later Sonja came running to her mother: "Mum, Mum, I'm invited to the graduation ball [note: the military accademy has a graduation ball, every year. with the Crown Prince." There's a very famous photograph of Sonja, trying to be discreet, leaning over to check out the marks he'd gotten...
They knew each other for nine years before King Olav approved the marriage. A reason for the long wait was just that it had been a very long time since a civilian had married into the Norwegian Royal family. I'm not sure who the last one was, but seeing as we were in union with Denmark for 400 years and Sweden closer to 90... it was quite some time ago.
Of course some of the newspapers, and some people proclaimed it the end of the monarchy...
Oh, and for those interested in the Royal urinary problem: King Harald has checked out of the hospital, but will return for regular check-ups.
