Queen Sonja of Norway, 87, returns to public life after brief hiatus following hospitalization. This follows two recent in-hospital visits that made her supporters fear for her life. Shortness of breath prompted her to seek urgent care last month. Local emergency services airlifted her to a trauma center, where doctors worked to save her life. Fortunately, the Queen has since fully recovered and returned to official duties earlier this week.
The Queen’s health has been a concern in the past. She was in the hospital earlier this year in January when she had atrial fibrillation while skiing. She was discharged the next day but needed a pacemaker placed just days later. In the face of such health complications, Queen Sonja has been fiercely determined to fight through these setbacks and maintain her public engagements.
Queen Sonja returns to public life! She opened a ceramics exhibition – Prøven – featuring the gifted works of her graduating class from the Oslo National Academy of Arts. The event demonstrated her deep and long-standing commitment to cultural issues, an effort she has personally championed for much of her reign. Perhaps most significantly, she established the Queen Sonja International Music Competition in 1988, to support talented young musicians starting their careers, highlighting her commitment to the arts.
Throughout the length of the exhibition, Queen Sonja was here in person to meet with guests and visitors. She documented her excitement about the artwork on display by snapping selfies with her cellphone. She was treated to an incredible musical performance by an up-and-coming young cellist. The music helped create an auditory dimension to the visual smorgasbord on offer at the event.
The Queen naturally clapped her delight at the whole performance. On top of that, she had the chance to look at all the different pieces on display, and meet some of the designers who created these amazing works. Her thoughtful approach to each artwork was evident, and her appreciation for the creativity and craftsmanship behind each piece was clearly received. This further solidified her reputation as a staunch arts advocate.
Queen Sonja’s return to Norway is an important story. It honors her commitment to artistic endeavors and cultural efforts, and speaks directly to the people who love her deeply. Her extraordinary will to recover from debilitating health challenges and stay engaged in public life is a lesson to us all.
