Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway has fallen ill. This was stated in a short press release from the Norwegian royal court on Tuesday morning. The royal court reports that the queen has an infection in the foot. She will, therefore, not participate in tomorrow’s state visit from South Korea.
The royal court’s communications manager, Guri Ofstad Varpe, has told the Norwegian press that they have no further comments to make on the matter for now. The Queen is otherwise in good health and is very active for her age. Several times a year she is walking in the mountains, and she has been praised by the people for her busy lifestyle.
It was intended that Her Majesty should have an active role during the state visit from South Korea. She was intended to attend the welcome ceremony at the castle as well as almost every program post during the first day of the visit. It was also intended that the Queen would visit the Munch museum together with South Korea’s first lady.
King Harald and Queen Sonja on their way to the opening of Parliament. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen
It is the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs who is responsible for the state visit. They have not realised any information on how the state visit is touched by Her Majesty’s condition.
The state visit from Korea will begin on Wednesday and last until Thursday. The visit marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and is the first Korean state visit to Norway. Follow Royal Central for the latest updates on Queens Sonja’s health and the state visit from South Korea.
In December 2016, Her Majesty missed out on the annual Christmas service at Holmenkollen chapel, also due to illness. The press, who had met up outside the chapel to photograph the royal family, were surprised when Queen Sonja did not attend the service. The Royal Court then said that the Queens had a non-harmful cold. Her Majesty recovered quickly. King Harald then thanked the people for the greetings to his wife when he left the chapel.
