difficult moment

Queen Sonja stays by King Harald’s side as royal couple approaches emotional milestone amid health crisis

Harald and Sonja first met in 1959, when they were both 22.

AUGUST 27, 2026 11:56 AM EDTAUG 27, 2026, 11:56 AM EDT

Queen Sonja and King Harald V of Norway share one of the most remarkable love stories in European royalty. Now, as the monarch faces a serious health crisis in the hospital, the Queen is once again demonstrating the devotion that has defined their relationship for nearly seven decades.

A love that challenged royal tradition:

Harald and Sonja first met in 1959, when they were both 22. The future King quickly fell for Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of a clothing merchant who had no royal or aristocratic title.

Queen Sonja became Norway’s first queen in 53 years when her husband ascended the throne in 1991.

Their relationship broke with royal tradition and sparked considerable debate in Norway. As heir to the throne, Harald was expected to marry a member of another European royal family or the nobility.

King Olav V initially hesitated to approve the relationship amid concerns about what a marriage to a commoner could mean for the monarchy. Harald and Sonja were forced to wait nine years before receiving permission to marry.

Harald and Sonja’s wedding marked the triumphant conclusion to a love story that challenged royal tradition.

During those years, the future King was reportedly encouraged to consider other potential brides. He also studied at Oxford, but his commitment to Sonja never wavered.

Harald eventually made a decision that would change the history of the Norwegian monarchy. He told his father that if he could not marry Sonja, he would remain single for the rest of his life.

King Harald and Queen Sonja’s relationship has endured for nearly seven decades.

As Harald was the only direct heir to the throne, his refusal to marry anyone else would have left the monarchy without a successor and potentially triggered a constitutional crisis.

After consulting the Norwegian government, parliamentary leaders and the president of the Storting, King Olav finally gave the couple permission to marry.

Their royal wedding 58 years ago:

Harald and Sonja announced their engagement on March 19, 1968. They married five months later, on August 29, at Oslo Cathedral.

The newlyweds were greeted by cheering crowds outside Oslo Cathedral following their royal wedding in 1968.

The wedding represented the triumphant conclusion to their nine-year struggle for royal approval. Crowds gathered in the streets of Oslo to celebrate the couple, while the cathedral was decorated with more than 2,500 flowers.

Sonja entered the cathedral on the arm of King Olav, a powerful sign that she had been welcomed into the royal family. After the ceremony, the newlyweds were greeted by cheers from the crowds gathered outside.

King Olav V accompanied Sonja into Oslo Cathedral after finally giving the couple permission to marry.

The couple went on to welcome two children, Princess Märtha Louise and Crown Prince Haakon, who is now heir to the Norwegian throne.

When Harald became King in 1991, Sonja became Norway’s first queen in 53 years.

A love that endured:

Over more than five decades of marriage and three decades on the throne, Harald and Sonja’s bond has become one of the foundations of Norway’s monarchy.

Crown Prince Harald and Sonja Haraldsen married at Oslo Cathedral on August 29, 1968, after waiting nine years for royal approval.

Together, they have navigated sweeping social change, countless official engagements and the challenges that come with a lifetime of public service.

Queen Sonja not only adapted to royal life but also helped redefine the role of a modern consort. She has accompanied the King through key moments of his reign and remained one of his closest sources of support.

Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja with their children, Princess Märtha Louise and Prince Haakon Magnus, during the 1980s.

When Harald swore his oath to uphold the Norwegian Constitution in 1991, Sonja accompanied him to the Storting. It marked the first time in 69 years that a Norwegian queen had been present in Parliament for the occasion.

Their lasting relationship has also helped transform the marriage that once sparked controversy into one of the Norwegian royal family’s most enduring love stories.

The Queen remains close during his hospitalization:

Queen Sonja’s devotion has taken on renewed significance during King Harald’s latest health crisis.

King Harald of Norway remains hospitalized as Crown Prince Haakon takes over his duties as regent. — Queen Sonja has remained by King Harald’s side as the monarch receives treatment in the hospital and his condition remains “very serious.”

The monarch was admitted to Rikshospitalet on August 17 while undergoing treatment for anemia. His condition subsequently worsened after he developed a bacterial infection in his bloodstream.

Although the palace initially reported that he had responded to antibiotics and that his condition was stable, the Royal House announced on August 27 that his state of health was now “very serious.”

Crown Prince Haakon is stepping in as regent while his father, King Harald, takes a two-week medical leave. — After nearly 58 years of marriage, Queen Sonja continues to support King Harald through his serious health crisis.

Queen Sonja and Crown Prince Haakon, who is serving as regent during his father’s illness, canceled their official engagements following the announcement. Other members of the royal family also gathered at the hospital to be near the King.

Through this deeply uncertain period, Queen Sonja has remained close to the man she fought to marry nearly six decades ago.

Her presence is a moving reminder that beyond the crowns, titles and royal protocol, the promise Harald and Sonja made to each other in 1968 continues to endure.

King Harald’s entire family rushes to hospital after palace issues ‘very serious’ health update — Queen Sonja canceled her official engagements following the palace’s troubling update on King Harald’s health.