Norwegian foreign ministry backs keeping Queen Sonja's birthday as a flag day
The Norwegian foreign ministry proposes retaining Queen Sonja's birthday as a flag day while dropping King Harald's birthday from the official list.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has suggested that the flag should continue to be raised on Queen Sonja's birthday, but that King Harald's birthday no longer be designated an official flag day. The proposal highlights Norway's lack of a precedent for a widowed queen, noting that previous queens consort have died before their husbands. It also references the historical cases of Queen Maud and Crown Princess Märtha, whose deaths left the monarchs widowed.
Why it matters
Changing flag day designations reflects how Norway honors its royal family and adapts historic traditions.
In this story
flag dayqueen sonjaking haraldnorwegian monarchywidowed queenroyal tradition
