Crown Prince Harald, the only son and heir of King Olav V of Norway, first met Sonja Haraldsen, the youngest child of Norwegian manufacturer Karl August Haraldsen (1889–1959) and Dagny Ulrichsen (1898–1994), in June 1959 at a party hosted by their mutual friend Johan Stenersen. In August 1959, Harald invited Sonja to a ball to celebrate his graduation from the Norwegian Military Academy.[1]
Their courtship proved controversial as many felt the Crown Prince should marry a bride of royal descent.[2] King Olav V refused to grant his consent to a non-royal match. The press linked Harald to Princess Alexandra of Kent, Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark and Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark. Following his 30th birthday in 1967, Harald told his father that if he could not marry Sonja, he would not marry at all. At the time, Harald was the only person in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, and his not marrying would have ended the reign of his family, and possibly the monarchy, in Norway.[2]
Following consultations with the Norwegian government, who stated that while they could not give their formal approval to the marriage they would not publicly oppose it should the king give his consent, King Olav V eventually relented and on 18 March 1968, he announced the couple's engagement in a statement to the president of the Storting.[1] Flags were flown from public buildings in celebration of the news.[3] Harald presented Sonja with a diamond and ruby ring which had belonged to his late mother, Crown Princess Märtha. Their son, Crown Prince Haakon, eventually presented the same ring to Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby.[4]
Pre-wedding celebrations
Sonja retrieves Magnhild Borten's dropped handkerchief at the government dinner held at Akershus Fortress
Many of the foreign guests arrived in Oslo on 27 August. A grand ball at the Royal Palace had been planned but was canceled due to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia and the recent sudden death of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent. Princess Marina was a close friend of King Olav V and the widow of his first cousin. Instead, the King gave a dinner for the royal guests who had arrived that day.[5]
Commemorative medals for the wedding were minted in both gold and silver and made available to the public.[6][7] The silver variety remains plentiful and can be obtained on the numismatic market.
The ceremony began at 17:00 local time. Dr Fridtjov Søiland Birkeli, Bishop of Oslo, presided over the Church of Norway ceremony at Oslo Cathedral.[2] The cathedral was decorated with more than 2500 roses, marguerites, freesias, sweet peas and gladioli.[3]
3000 soldiers lined the processional route from the Royal Palace to the cathedral. The bells of Oslo City Hall rang from 16:30 local time on. Crown Prince Harald and his best man led the procession.[3]
Sonja wore a silk wedding gown by Molstad, a Norwegian department store. Like her sisters-in-law before her, she did not wear a tiara, instead using flowers in her hair to secure her long tulle veil. She carried a bouquet of white roses, freesias, lilies of the valley and orchids.[3]
Crown Prince Harald's best man was his cousin Count Flemming of Rosenborg. Sonja's maid of honour was her friend Ilmi Riddervold, her bridesmaids were Ingeborg Lorentzen (daughter of Princess Ragnhild), Lis Haraldsen (daughter of her brother Haakon), Ian Henriksen and Anita Henriksen (daughters of her sister Gry).[1]
At 19:00 local time, King Olav V hosted a banquet for 225 guests in the palace's grand dining room. The King, Crown Prince Harald and Bernt Ingvaldsen, President of the Storting, all gave speeches. After dinner, dancing began in the ballroom. The Crown Prince and new Crown Princess danced to a specially composed waltz.[2]
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