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Norway

King Harald and Queen Sonja’s love story becomes TV-series

The love story that has shaped Norwegian history is now becoming a TV drama series in Norway.

King Harald stood firm against opposition to his choice of bride for nine years before he could finally marry Sonja Haraldsen. At a time when royal brides had to be royal, Sonja’s family was far from the perfect choice. However, the couple’s love won through and Sonja went on to become a hugely popular Crown Princess then Queen.

The series bringing their romance to life is called “Harald and Sonja” and it will be a lavish drama series about the couple, which will be broadcast on Viaplay.

In the main roles we find highly respected Norwegian actors. While Sindre Strand Offerdal and Gina Bernhoft Gørvell portray the young couple, Anders Baasmo and Anneke von der Lippe will play King Olav and Sonja’s mother, Dagny Haraldsen.

This is not the first time Anders Baasmo has played King Olav. In 2016 he played then Olav as heir to the thronein the major film success “The Kings No” which dramatized the German attack on Norway in 1940.

Viaplay writes in a press release: “The story is like something out of a fairy tale. Society took time to accept the new Crown Prince and Princess , but love would win in the end. Harald and Sonja has all the ingredients to become a major international viewer favourite for anyone who likes unique and genuine love stories”.

The series, which will be one of the biggest Viaplay productions to this date, is expected to premiere on Viaplay in 2025.

About author

Senior Europe Correspondent Oskar Aanmoen has a master in military and political history of the Nordic countries. He has written six books on historical subjects and more than 1.500 articles for Royal Central. He has also interview both Serbian and Norwegian royals. Aanmoen is based in Oslo, Norway.