King Harald and Queen Sonja have reigned in Norway since 1991. They enjoy a high approval rating with the citizens of Norway, but when they first met, their relationship was highly controversial.
Born into the Norwegian royal family, the fate and duties of Crown Prince Harald were pre-determined by the Norwegian constitution. Much like in fairytales of old, Harald was expected to marry a woman of noble birth, produce an heir, and carry the Norwegian monarchy forward.
The new Amazon Prime period drama Harald og Sonja (English title: The Commoner) depicts the nine-year struggle of Crown Prince Harald and commoner Sonja Haraldsen as they fight to get their engagement approved. The touching portrayal provides insight into the young couple’s secret courtship, recounting the buzz surrounding “the girl from Vinderen” who had the public wondering, “Will the monarchy survive Sonja Haraldsen?”
In a 2016 interview, King Harald said he’d suffered a terrible inner conflict at that time, since he was in love with Sonja but his duty toward father and country weighed heavily on his conscience. Sonja’s mother Dagny, on the other hand, was supportive of the relationship, and her home in Tuengen Allé became a refuge where the couple could meet away from prying eyes.
Series creator, screenwriter and director Vibeke Idsøe set out to chronicle Harald and Sonja’s forbidden love and their determination to stay together. Idsøe remarked to NRK.no that it is challenging to create a drama representing living people, so her aim was to remain true to the story as the king and queen have told it themselves. The four-part series includes audio in English and Norwegian, with subtitles in over 10 languages. Dagbladet.no rated the series a “dice roll 5” out of 6.
As reserved as Harald (played by newcomer Sindre Strand Offerdal) appears, his patience wears thin and he confront his father, issuing an ultimatum to his country: if he cannot marry Sonja (portrayed by Gina Bernhoft Gørvell), he will never marry, and there will be no heir to the throne. Fearing the collapse of the monarchy, King Olav and the government ultimately approve of the marriage, so the couple’s tenacity had paid off.
In August 1968, Harald and Sonja wed in Oslo Cathedral. 850 guests attended the nuptials accompanied by hymns, trumpet fanfare and an operatic solo. The bells in Oslo City Hall pealed in jubilation and a 21-gun salute was issued from Akershus Fortress. At last, Harald and Sonja’s love could be celebrated out loud.
Sources:
https://www.nrk.no/kultur/ny-dramaserie-om-kjaerlighetshistorien-til-kong-harald-og-dronning-sonja-1.17276051
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_of_Harald,_Crown_Prince_of_Norway,_and_Sonja_Haraldsen
https://www.dagbladet.no/kjendis/ny-serie-om-kongeparet-sann-ja/82682076
