King Haakon extends his hand to grieving mother Queen Sonja in an emotional moment

King Haakon VIII stood next to Queen Sonja as his mother arrived at Oslo Cathedral to attend the funeral of her beloved husband, King Harald V.

The grieving widow arrived in a black dress with a pearl necklace and a black veil over her face and stepped out of the car that took her from the Royal Palace to the cathedral.

As Sonya began to enter, Haakon grabbed her hand and squeezed it in a brief moment of tenderness before the ceremony, filling her with strength for the funeral.

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The Queen sent her husband along with the Norwegian royal family and a host of other royals such as Prince William, Princess Anne and King Frederick X of Denmark.

Just a few days before his funeral, Sonja left a farewell message for Harald, who died on August 28 at the age of 89 from blood poisoning.

While his coffin lay in the Palace Chapel at the Royal Palace, she left a wreath with a ribbon reading “Thank you for a good life” in Norwegian, indicating their long romance.

Romance for the ages

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Harald and Sonja first met at a party in 1959 and dated in secret for several years as she was a commoner and at the time Norway did not allow intermarriage between royals and non-royals.

Harald was determined to make Sonja his bride and presented an ultimatum to his father, King Olaf V, declaring that he would become king but refuse to marry, effectively ending the line.

“I actually told King Olav, my father, that I was going to marry Sonja or that I would never marry at all,” recalled Harald OLA! After nine years of dating, Olaf finally relented and announced his engagement to the world on March 18, 1968.

“It is my pleasure to inform you, Mr. President and members of the Storting. [Norwegian parliament]“I, after consultation with the Prime Minister, members of the government, you, Mr. President, and the parliamentary leaders of the political parties, today gave my consent to my dear son, Crown Prince Harald, to marry Miss Sonja Haraldsen, daughter of the late Mr. Karl August Haraldsen and Mrs. Dagny Haraldsen, née Ulrichsen,” the statement said.

Let’s build a life together

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After their wedding on 29 August 1968, the couple welcomed Princess Märtha Louise in 1971 and her brother Haakon two years later.

When asked about their favorite activity together, Harald and Sonja shared OLA! that they like to relax by watching TV. “Every day we love to watch television,” said the king. “We’re having a great time. Since we are always surrounded by people, it is wonderful and relaxing to sit and watch others entertain you.”