Queen Sonja and King Harald V of Norway
Indeed, Love conquers all. If everyone lived the two greatest commandments to love (Matt. 22:37-40), there would be no wars and their would be peace on earth good will to all humankind. Our environment wouldn’t be challenged because of everyone’s appreciation of all God’s beautiful creations.
Love is the first law of heaven and on earth, as can be proven from John 14:15,21. Love implies obedience (A implies B), and obedience implies love (B implies A). Hence, A and B are logically equivalent–raising the definition of obedience to a celestial level. We obey the commandments because of our pure love of God–wanting always to please Him.
A great love story is shared in the movie, “The Commoner.” It is based on a true and amazing story. It documents an exciting landmark event for Norway and the world. The movie was released this year (2025) on Valentine’s Day. How appropriate is that! Four one-hour episodes tell this amazing story, available on Amazon Prime. The acting and portrayal are very accurate and well done.
One of the main reasons America is great is because the Bible was the most important book for its founding documents. There we read, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (Deut. 6:5) Then the Savior gave us this powerful admonition, which clearly would stop all wars, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matt. 5:44)
America’s Declaration of Independence profoundly states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Our God given right to individual sovereignty is paramount.
India’s caste system, monarchy, and political circles fly in the face of each of our individual equality and significance as children of God. The story shared in the movie THE COMMONER magnifies the great importance of personal sovereignty and self-worth for the world.
Crown Prince of Norway
Crown Prince Harald of Norway met Sonja Haraldsen at a party in 1959. Sonja was considered a “commoner”. However, she was educated, elegant, and accomplished — but none of that mattered to traditionalists because she lacked a royal or noble title.
Her relationship with Harald wasn’t judged on love, compatibility, or character — but on lineage. That’s why the title The Commoner is so loaded. It highlights how social class often trumps personal worth.
Prince Harald courted Sonja Haraldsen for eight years. The couple met significant opposition, primarily from royal leadership and political circles, but not from the general public. Harald’s father, King Olav V, was hesitant, not necessarily out of personal dislike. Due to constitutional and traditional concerns, royal marriages were expected to be with other royals or nobility. Government advisors and royal court officials feared that marrying a commoner might weaken the monarchy’s legitimacy or even destroy it. If Harald and Sonja were to marry, there was concern that breaking royal tradition could set a precedent or even destabilize the institution.
Royalty Is Not Just a Role
Being royal isn’t just a role; it’s historically treated as an unchangeable identity, passed by blood, not merit. For centuries, marrying outside of royalty or nobility was seen as weakening the “purity” or legitimacy of the royal line — much like how caste systems enforce social boundaries to maintain hierarchy.
By insisting on marrying for love, Crown Prince Harald rejected a centuries-old power structure. He wasn’t just choosing Sonja — he was challenging the very foundation of royal exclusivity. And he risked ending the monarchy altogether to do it. He told his father, “If I cannot marry Sonja, I shall remain unmarried!” You can imagine how King Olav felt about that.
What the Public Thought
Over time, the Norwegian public grew increasingly supportive of the couple. The long secrecy of their relationship made it a quiet public matter at first, but as the truth emerged, many saw Sonja as dignified, loyal, and admirable. The main tension was within the monarchy and political elite. Harald’s long resistance to tradition and Sonja’s patience helped them win over both camps.
The whole story taps into something ancient and uncomfortable: That your birth status could define your value, no matter your personal merits. This royal courtship drama put that tension on a global stage.
Sonja as the Queen of Norway
Their marriage had a significant cultural and social impact on Norway and on the world community. First commoner queen in Norway’s history — she redefined what it meant to be royal. She brought a modern, relatable tone to the monarchy. She became a working royal from day one — with real responsibilities, not just ceremonial duties. “Sonja helped bring the monarchy closer to the people,” said many commentators during her early years as queen.
She is an accomplished artist and photographer herself. Co-founded the Queen Sonja Print Award (est. 2011) — the world’s most prestigious prize for graphic artists. She has held her own art exhibitions in Norway and abroad. She has promoted Norwegian artists and culture internationally.
She is known for her love of hiking, skiing, and nature — she’s a passionate advocate for Norway’s outdoor heritage. She has written and photographed books on Norwegian landscapes and friluftsliv (outdoor life). Her example helped normalize female participation in rugged outdoor sports and reinforced Norway’s identity as a nature-loving country.
She is a patron of many causes, including: Mental health, Refugee support, Women’s rights, and Education and literacy. She frequently visits hospitals, schools, and care centers — often without press, doing quiet, consistent public service.
Loving Godly Service Today
Earlier this year, Jordan Peterson did an hour-and-a-half-long podcast with Charlie Kirk. Jordan explored in detail Charlie’s motivation for his work with TurningPointUSA. They brought up and discussed in detail the life of William Wilberforce. William—giving his life to God—was amazingly successful in eliminating the slave trade in the UK in 1803. In honor of him and his work, Parliament eliminated slavery in 1833, just three days before William died. The movie AMAZING GRACE does a great job of telling William’s story.
Similarly, Charlie Kirk, giving his life to God, has changed the world for good with his martyrdom on the 10th of September this year (2025). His loving demeanor has impacted the whole world for good.
Loving Service gives no Limit for the Good we can do
I believe the Lord gave me the following poem:
“There is no limit to the good we can do,
If we but look to heaven to guide us through;
From our heavenly home, we learned of its creeds,
To bless God’s offspring with our thoughts, words, and deeds.”
I believe Queen Sonja Haraldsen, wife of King Harald V, is a great example of loving service, and they are still with us at age 88. Their long and stable marriage — over 57 years — has been a symbol of stability and continuity and loving godly service for Norway—blessing the lives of countless Norwegians and the world for those who know the amazing story of “The Commoner.”
I pray that we may all focus on giving loving service with an eye single to the glory of God.
David W. Allan
Photo: Wikipedia