Queen Sonja of Norway

Queen Sonja of Norway (née Sonja Haraldsen, born July 4 1937 in Oslo) is the queen consort of Norway, wife of King Harald V of Norway. She is styled HM The Queen.

Related Topics:
July 4 - 1937 - Oslo - Queen consort - Norway - Harald V of Norway

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A commoner, the daughter of Karl August Haraldsen and his wife, née Dagny Ulrichsen, she became engaged to then Crown Prince Harald in March 1968. They had been secretly dating for nine years, a result of opposition to her non-royal status. After the Crown Prince threatened to give up his rights to the throne unless he could marry her, the Crown Prince's father, Olav V consulted the government for advice. The result was that the couple were wed on August 29, 1968, in Oslo.

Related Topics:
Commoner - Olav V - August 29 - 1968 - Oslo

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In 1982 she was a laureate of the Nansen Refugee Award.

Related Topics:
1982 - Nansen Refugee Award

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Following the death of King Olav V on 17 January, 1991, Sonja became Norway's first queen consort in 53 years. She and King Harald have two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon Magnus.

Related Topics:
17 January - 1991 - Princess Märtha Louise - Crown Prince Haakon Magnus

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In 2005, Queen Sonja became the first queen ever to visit Antarctica—the queen was there to open a Norwegian research station in the country's Antarctic dependency, Queen Maud Land.

Related Topics:
Antarctica - Queen Maud Land

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Queen Sonja and her husband have three grandchildren: HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, Maud Angelica Behn and Leah Isadora Behn. A fourth grandchild is expected by Crown Princess Mette-Marit (wife of Crown Prince Haakon Magnus) in late 2005.

Related Topics:
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway - Maud Angelica Behn - Leah Isadora Behn - Crown Princess Mette-Marit

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