Norway's King Haakon VIII removes 'Majesty' title from Queen Sonja

Following the death of King Harald V in August 2026, King Haakon VIII has implemented changes to the protocol of the Norwegian Royal House. These changes include the removal of the title “Her Majesty” from his mother, Queen Sonja.

According to the Royal Palace, the decision follows a tradition of limiting the use of royal courtesy titles. Under the new guidelines, only members of the immediate Royal House—the reigning monarch, their spouse, and the next generation of heirs—are addressed as “Your Majesty” or “Your Royal Highness.” Consequently, Queen Sonja will retain her title of Queen but will be addressed by her title rather than the style of majesty. She has also been moved from the “Royal House” section to the “other members of the royal family” on the official monarchy website.

The Palace clarified that while these changes apply domestically, international protocols may differ; for example, she may still be referred to as “Her Majesty Queen Sonja” in English. Despite the shift in status, Queen Sonja will continue to perform official duties representing the Crown.