2 min read
Queen Sonja stepped out for her first solo public appearance since the death of her husband on Monday. Wearing a white jacket over a black turtleneck with black trousers, as the royal family is now past the official mourning period, Sonja visited the National Archives in Oslo to view the thousands of letters, drawings, and messages of condolence that Norwegians left at the Palace Square in the days surrounding King Harald’s death. Queen Sonja, King Haakon, Queen Mette-Marit, and Princess Märtha Louise made an emotional public appearance in the days after Harald’s death to view the thousands of tributes left outside of the Royal Palace.
Queen Sonja’s official schedule had been suspended before his death when Harald was rushed to hospital, prior to his death on August 28 at the age of 89. She has only been seen sporadically in the weeks that followed. Queen Sonja appeared publicly only at a memorial service for Harald, visiting his coffin lying in state, the oath ceremony at which her son was formally proclaimed King Haakon VIII, Harald’s state funeral, and the funeral of Princess Astrid, Harald’s sister, who died two days after the state funeral.
Anette Ask, The Royal Court
Queen Sonja meets with National Archives employees who collected materials from the Palace Square.
The messages at the National Archives were gathered from Palace Square by royal gardeners in the days before and after Harald’s death and transported to the archives at Sognsvann in Oslo, where a representative selection will be stored permanently in a secure mountain facility. Much of the material is also being digitized for future researchers and the public.
“The expressions will become part of the nation’s memory here with us, now and into the future,” National Archivist Inga Bolstad said in a statement. “They will tell their stories to researchers, communicators and future generations about the people’s relationship with the late King. It is an honour that Queen Sonja wants to visit us and learn more about this work.”
Anette Ask, The Royal Court
Queen Sonja and archivist Stian Norli observe drawings, letters, and other commemorative expressions in the National Archives’ catalog.
Anette Ask, The Royal Court
A few examples of some of the creative tributes left in honor of King Harald.
The National Archives also gifted Queen Sonja with two boxes containing a selection of the material they collected. “Now I can sit at home and see a little more precisely what the different people have put in,” Sonja said after the event, according to the Royal Palace.
NurPhoto//Getty Images
Thousands of bouquets, notes, and Norwegian flags seen in front of the Royal Palace on September 5.
NurPhoto//Getty Images
A person observing some of the drawings and notes left in tribute to King Harald.
Following Harald’s death, Queen Sonja’s official role and title changed. She is no longer queen consort and no longer holds the style of Her Majesty, which now belongs to Queen Mette-Marit as the wife of the reigning monarch. The Norwegian Royal House now officially refers to her as “kongemoren,” a Norwegian term meaning “the king’s mother,” or the equivalent of “queen mother” in English. However, with Queen Mette-Marit not returning to public duties until at least next year as she recovers from a lung transplant and with Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra soon returning to Australia to finish her college degree, it is possible that Queen Sonja will continue to fulfill the role of Norway’s First Lady at major events for the near future.
Rachel King (she/her) is a news writer at Town & Country. Before joining T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in Forbes, Observer, Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at @rk.passport.