Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.nine.com.au
Nearly two months after the death of her husband, Norway’s widowed queen has been demoted under sweeping changes to the monarchy.
Court officials have updated the definition of the Royal House under its new monarch King Haakon VIII, who ascended to the throne on August 28.
King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit of Norway, as seen on the revamped website for the Royal House following the death of King Harald V. The Royal House of Norway
The changes were revealed after the official mourning period for the late King Harald V ended on Friday.
According to the new definition, members of the Royal House include just King Haakon VIII, his wife Queen Mette-Marit and their heir Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
“The Royal House includes the current monarch and their spouses and the next of kin in subsequent generations and their spouses,” the palace said in a statement issued overnight.
“The term royal family also includes the monarch’s other family.”
Those who come under the term Royal Family include Queen Sonja − King Harald’s widow − the king and queen’s youngest son Prince Sverre Magnus and Haakon’s elder sister, Princess Märtha Louise.
Sverre Magnus, 20, is second-in-line to the throne, while Märtha Louise is third in the line of succession.
Queen Sonja also lost her status as Her Majesty when Harald died, with that title now used solely for the king’s wife, Queen Mette-Marit. Sonja and Harald were married for one day shy of 58 years.
King Harald died in hospital on August 28 after numerous health issues over the years including a blood disorder and infection, ending a 35-year reign.
Queen Sonja, widow to the late Harald V, has been demoted under sweeping changes to the Royal House following her husband’s death in August. Lise Aserud/Pool Photo via AP
Sonja, who retains her title as queen, joined her son and his family on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo immediately after Harald’s funeral on September 9.
The 89-year-old received the biggest cheer from the crowds and was seen reacting with surprise, while her daughter-in-law held back tears.
As is custom following a change of throne, the website of Norway’s monarchy has undergone major changes, while official insignia and branding are also being updated to reflect the new reign.
Queen Sonja will continue to carry out official duties on behalf of the Royal House and on Monday she visited the National Archives in Oslo to view a selection of the messages and tributes left in the wake of Harald’s death.
King Harald V and his wife Queen Sonja married in 1968. Harald died on August 28, one day before what would have been their 58th wedding anniversary. The Royal House of Norway
She is the most popular member of the family followed by her son and granddaughter, according to polling done in the days after King Harald’s death which saw support for Norway’s monarchy rise significantly.
Business is slowly returning to normal and next week, on October 22, King Haakon will host a state banquet inside the palace for members of the government. He will be joined by Queen Sonja and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, which will mark her first time attending the event.
Queen Mette-Marit is not expected to join her husband as she remains on sick leave following a successful lung transplant in June. Last week the palace said the 53-yer-old was “still in rehabilitation” and will have no official program until mid-next year.
Norway’s Royal House includes King Haakon VIII, Queen Mette-Marit and Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra while Queen Sonja and Prince Sverre Magnus are defined as members of the royal family. AP Photo/Markus Schreiber
The palace also confirmed Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will soon return to Australia to resume her studies at the University of Sydney.
The 22-year-old will start the new semester in February 2027 after having to cut short her stay in June this year.
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra abruptly left Sydney to return to Norway as her family faced several unprecedented challenges.
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will resume her degree at Sydney University in February, just months after becoming first-in-line to the throne of Norway. Rune Hellestad/Getty Images
She had moved to Sydney in late July 2025 for a three-year degree in social science, specialising in international relations and politics.
This year – on May 17 – nine.com.au was there when the princess carried out her first public appearance in Australia, attending Norway’s National Day celebrations in Sydney.
In August, the royal transferred to Oslo University on exchange before she returns to Sydney in the new year.
