QUEEN OF NORWAY

Queen Sonja

Queen Sonja was born in Oslo on 4 July 1937 as the daughter of clothing merchant Karl August Haraldsen  and Dagny Ulrichsen, both of whom are deceased.

Queen Sonja grew up in Oslo.  She received a diploma in dressmaking and tailoring at the Oslo Vocational School, as well as a diploma from École Professionelle des Jeunes Filles in Lausanne, Switzerland. There, she studied accounting, fashion design, and social science. She returned to Norway for further studies and received an undergraduate degree (French, English and Art History) from the University of Oslo.

She became engaged to then Crown Prince Harald in March 1968. They had been dating for nine years, although this had been kept secret because of opposition to her non-royal status. The Crown Prince made it clear to his father, King Olav V, that he would remain unmarried for life unless he could marry her. This would in effect have put an end to the rule of his family and most likely the monarchy in Norway as well; he was the sole heir to the throne. Faced with having to choose one of his relatives from the Danish Royal Family, the Dukes of Schleswig-Holstein or even the Grand Dukes of Oldenburg as his new heir in place of his son, Olav V consulted the government for advice and the result was that the couple were wed on 29 August 1968, at Oslo Domkirke in Oslo. She then acquired the style of Royal Highness and the title of Crown Princess of Norway.

Following the death of King Olav V on 17 January 1991, Sonja became Norway's first queen consort in 53 years. Queen Sonja accompanied King Harald V when he swore his oath to uphold the Constitution in the Parliment building on 21 January 1991. It was the first time in 69 years that a Norwegian queen had been present in theParliment.

In 2005, Queen Sonja became the first queen ever to visit Antarctica. The Queen was there to open the Norwegian Troll research station in the country's Antarctic dependency, Queen Maud Land. The Queen is appointed a Rear Admiral in the Royal Norwegian Navy and a Brigadier in the Norwegian army. She has undergone a basic officer training course and has participated in exercises. Queen Sonja’s children:

Her Highness Princess Märtha Louise, born on 22 September 1971. She married Ari Behn on 24 May 2002. They have 3 daughters:

        Maud Angelica Behn, born 29 April 2003
        Leah Isadora Behn, born 8 April 2005
        Emma Tallulah Behn, born 29 September 2008

 His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon Magnus, born on 20 July 1973. He married Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby on 25 August 2001. She has a son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby.
They have 2 children:

        Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra, born 21 January 2004, Hereditary Princess of Norway
        His Highness Prince Sverre Magnus, born 3 December 2005

 So what do you think? True Cinderella? One thing is for sure, she is one tough Queen, and I bet a wonderful Queen Grandma!