Queen Sonja, The Queen Mother?

Is the Norwegian royal court hinting at a new title change for Queen Sonja — “Kongemoren”? 

There has been an air of confusion regarding a recent “title change” for Queen Sonja of Norway. Following the recent funeral of Princess Astrid, the royal court’s website listed members of the royal family attending the service and gave Queen Sonja a “new title”: “Queen Sonja, the King Mother”.

The text is as follows: “Deres Majesteter Kong Haakon og Dronning Mette-Marit, Hennes Kongelige Høyhet Kronprinsesse Ingrid Alexandra og Dronning Sonja, kongemoren, var til stede i Ris kirke sammen med Prinsesse Astrids nærmeste familie.”

Many readers were taken aback by the seemingly quiet insertion of a new “title” for Queen Sonja. “kongemoren” literally translates to “the king mother”. Was this a typo in the article, or is this how Queen Sonja is referred to behind the scenes, or is it just someone at the royal court who has completely misunderstood the use and bestowal of titles?

Historian and author Trond Norén Isaksen tells Aftenposten and Dagbladet, “If anyone should know this, it’s the Palace. This is basic knowledge of the monarchy. It’s embarrassing because it suggests they don’t understand royal titles.” Isaksen is under the impression the court’s “new title” is a description, not a “title” altogether: “A king mother means a king who is the mother of the monarch, which is biologically impossible. In the same way that a queen mother is a queen who is the mother of the monarch.” Many others agree with Isaksen’s opinion.

Others believe that using the special designation “The Queen Mother” would distinguish Sonja in a pool of Queens as someone “more than just the spouse of a former king.” TV 2’s royal expert Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen says, “The use of the expression ‘king mother’ indicates that the royal court, and not least King Haakon VIII, is trying to use a certain form of expression that is typical of the monarchy, and which further solidifies Queen Sonja as something more than just the spouse of a former king. She is also the mother of the current king.”

It is customary in some monarchies for the mother of a sovereign to be styled as the “Queen Mother” after the death of their husband. The history of “Queen Mother” can be found going back to the 1560s; however, it was a more recent recipient who held the title longer than almost any other in history — Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Queen Elizabeth was the widow of King George VI and mother of Queen Elizabeth II. Shortly after her husband’s death, her daughter granted her the title of Queen Mother in honour of her years of service but also to differentiate the two Elizabeths. Many believe the title was newly created for Queen Elizabeth, but history shows otherwise.

Around the world, only a handful of queens hold the special title befitting the widow and mother of a monarch.

Thailand had a Queen Mother from 2016 to 2025 after Queen Sirikit was bestowed the title by King Vajiralongkorn during the coronation ceremonies in May 2019. Even almost a year after her death, with a cremation scheduled in just a few months, she is still deeply revered as the Mother of the Nation.

Bhutan is exceptional in that all four wives of the former King (Jigme Singye, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, the King Father of Bhutan) respectively hold the title of Queen Mother. The title “King Father” is even rarer and is used only in Bhutan and Cambodia, where a King has abdicated, and his son becomes the monarch.

Japan uses Emeritus to distinguish Emperor Naruhito from Emperor Emeritus Akihito, as well as Empress Masako from Empress Emerita Michiko. Emeritus is sometimes colloquially used when referring to King Juan Carlos or Queen Sofia of Spain.

In the Kingdom of Eswatini, Ntfombi Tfwala is the Queen Mother and referred to as the “Ndlovukati.” The Queen Mother’s role is also different from others in that Her Majesty serves as joint head of state alongside King Mswati III.

Queen Sonja’s role in Norway: Sonja’s standing in the royal family, court, or foreign royal houses would not be “diminished” if she were granted the new title, as some have written in recent weeks. It would help solidify her place in Norwegian royal history as one of the most exceptional Queen consorts the kingdom has ever seen.

The Royal News Organisation has reached out to the Palace several times for clarification.