{"id":371608,"date":"2026-10-13T03:30:33","date_gmt":"2026-10-13T03:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/371608\/"},"modified":"2026-10-13T03:30:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T03:30:33","slug":"queen-sonja-visits-the-national-archives-to-view-letters-left-by-norwegians-after-king-haralds-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/371608\/","title":{"rendered":"Queen Sonja Visits the National Archives to View Letters Left by Norwegians After King Harald’s Death"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated2 min read<\/p>\n

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<\/a>, 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\u2019s death. Queen Sonja, King Haakon, Queen Mette-Marit, and Princess M\u00e4rtha Louise made an emotional public appearance<\/a> in the days after Harald\u2019s death to view the thousands of tributes left outside of the Royal Palace.<\/p>\n

Queen Sonja\u2019s official schedule had been suspended<\/a> before his death when Harald was rushed to hospital, prior to his death on August 28<\/a> 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<\/a>, visiting his coffin lying in state<\/a>, the oath ceremony at which her son was formally proclaimed King Haakon VIII<\/a>, Harald\u2019s state funeral<\/a>, and the funeral of Princess Astrid<\/a>, Harald\u2019s sister, who died two days after the state funeral.<\/p>\n

\"AAnette Ask, The Royal Court<\/p>\n

Queen Sonja meets with National Archives employees who collected materials from the Palace Square.<\/p>\n

The messages at the National Archives were gathered from Palace Square by royal gardeners in the days before and after Harald\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe expressions will become part of the nation’s memory here with us, now and into the future,\u201d National Archivist Inga Bolstad said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cThey 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"VisitorsAnette Ask, The Royal Court<\/p>\n

Queen Sonja and archivist Stian Norli observe drawings, letters, and other commemorative expressions in the National Archives\u2019 catalog.<\/p>\n

\"ArtworkAnette Ask, The Royal Court<\/p>\n

A few examples of some of the creative tributes left in honor of King Harald.<\/p>\n

The National Archives also gifted Queen Sonja with two boxes containing a selection of the material they collected. \u201cNow I can sit at home and see a little more precisely what the different people have put in,\u201d Sonja said after the event, according to the Royal Palace<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"OsloNurPhoto\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Thousands of bouquets, notes, and Norwegian flags seen in front of the Royal Palace on September 5.<\/p>\n

\"OsloNurPhoto\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

A person observing some of the drawings and notes left in tribute to King Harald.<\/p>\n

Following Harald\u2019s death, Queen Sonja\u2019s 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<\/a> as the wife of the reigning monarch. The Norwegian Royal House now officially refers to her as \u201ckongemoren,\u201d a Norwegian term meaning \u201cthe king\u2019s mother,\u201d or the equivalent of \u201cqueen mother\u201d in English. However, with Queen Mette-Marit not returning to public duties<\/a> 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<\/a>, it is possible that Queen Sonja will continue to fulfill the role of Norway\u2019s First Lady at major events for the near future.<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Rachel King (she\/her) is a news writer at\u00a0Town & Country. Before joining\u00a0T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at\u00a0Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in\u00a0Forbes,\u00a0Observer,\u00a0Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and\u00a0Cool 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\u00a0@rk.passport<\/a>.<\/p>\n