for
Prince Carl Philip's wedding, 2015 Following the death of
King Olav V on 17 January 1991, Sonja became Norway's first queen consort in 52 years. The Queen was 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. On 17 January 2021, Queen Sonja celebrated 30 years as
Norway's queen consort.
Activities In 1972, Sonja was involved in establishing Princess Märtha Louise's Fund, which provides assistance to disabled children in Norway. She has taken active part in large-scale initiatives to raise funds for international refugees and spent time in the 1970s visiting
Vietnamese boat refugees in
Malaysia. In 2021,
Frank Rossavik said that now she is starting an [art] gallery, to sell works by artists that she has given her prestigious prizes to.
Personal interests Sonja established the
Queen Sonja International Music Competition in 1988. It was originally for pianists, but in 1995 the competition became only for singers. The jury consists of diverse authoritative figures in opera and the winners receive a cash amount and prestigious engagements at Norwegian music institutions. She is a longtime avid photographer and has a keen interest in art. She is a
printmaker, and held exhibitions with artists
Kjell Nupen and
Ørnulf Opdahl in 2011 and 2013. The Queen Sonja Nordic Art Award was established in 2011 with Tiina Kivinen from Finland being the first recipient in 2012. The prize will be awarded every other year. In 2017,
The Queen Sonja Art Stable was opened, a venue which will function as a scene for arts and culture. Together with King Harald, the queen has for decades attempted to establish a
palace museum in
Oslo. The Queen is a keen hiker, and this was marked by a sculpture unveiled for her 80th birthday as a gift from the
Norwegian Trekking Association.
Health In January 2025, Sonja was admitted to
Lillehammer Hospital for observation following
atrial fibrillation while on a skiing trip. She underwent surgery at the
Oslo University Hospital on 16 January to receive a
pacemaker implant. In April 2025, she was hospitalised at the
National Hospital due to shortness of breath.
In popular culture In 2025
Amazon Prime Video released the period drama
The Commoner, which tells the story of the fight of then Crown Prince Harald and Sonja Haraldsen for their right to marry. Queen Sonja of Norway is portrayed by Gina Bernhoft Gørvell. ==Issue==