The queen approaching 90 whose style remains stand out
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Maybe it’s her training in design and couture, maybe it’s years of being the smiling face of her royal family but Queen Sonja takes some beating in the style stakes. The Norwegian consort, who is just a few years shy of turning 90, remains one of the most elegant royals in Europe with a sense of chic that is hard to beat. The past year has seen some classic reminders of why Sonja remains a style queen.
Glittering at a gala dinner
In the spring of 2024, the second longest reigning queen consort in Europe welcomed the newest to her royal palace for a gala dinner and the sparkle was mighty. Queen Sonja has been consort since 1991 and chose a dress she’s been wearing pretty much since the start of her reign.
The bright coral evening gown with pleated skirt and sheer cape style wings has been doing the royal rounds for over thirty years and looks just as elegant as it did in the 1990s. And, just as she has done all that time, the Queen of Norway went for a proper colour clash and styled it with the huge set of emeralds that only she is allowed to wear.
Casual chic in times of crisis
The Queen of Norway celebrated her 87th birthday in the summer, catching up with her husband who reached the same age earlier in 2024. After health issues for King Harald, it was always planned that the couple would stay in Norway through August while their son, Crown Prince Haakon, and daughter in law, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, joined other royals in Paris for the Olympics.
However, Mette-Marit’s appearance there was delayed after her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, was arrested on allegations of assault and when she did arrive, no one was talking about the sport. Enter Queen Sonja and King Harald who just happened to be photographed watching the Olympics obsessively every time they had anything to eat.
Sonja was clearly ready for her close up, enjoying yet another random sport in a chic pale blue summer shift covered in pretty white embroidery. Extra points for having absolutely all the china and tableware in contrasting shades of blue. It was the boost Norway’s royals needed, as the king and queen put the focus back on cheering their country’s athletes, and a fashion win to boot.
Traditional dress for a controversial wedding
Royal weddings usually bring a boost, what with all the pretty pictures and glamourous guests. However, when Queen Sonja and King Harald’s only daughter, Princess Martha Louise, said ‘I do’ for the second time in August, it brought controversy as she and her partner, Durek Verrett, sold rights to Hello magazine. Norway’s royals were quick to announce they wouldn’t be in any of the exclusive images and when the big day dawned, Queen Sonja led a striking style moment for her family.
She decided to attend the wedding in traditional Norwegian dress. Her bunad, in bright red with gold trim, put the spotlight firmly on her country and the monarchy’s links to it. And her royal family followed suit with several others in traditional dress. It has to be said that Norway’s queen suits this traditional style and she turned it into the royal wedding win of the year in tricky circumstances.
Bright and chic on a winter’s day
For the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize, in early December, Queen Sonja went bright with a turquoise two piece and pill box hat.
The ultra chic suit is a rewear, as are many of her clothes and was an instant hit as well as a nod to the gemstone that marks December, the turquoise.
Queen Sonja turned 88 in 2025 and remains one of the most prolific members of her royal family. She’ll be hoping for a calmer year and everyone else will be hoping for a few more style lessons from the soon to be nonagenarian with an eye for fashion like no other.
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