16th January 2021
Skaugum Estate is a farmhouse that lies just outside Oslo, Norway, and it is currently the home of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, though it has a storied history that dates back to the Middle Ages and is known as the birthplace of King Harald, in 1937.
Originally a church property, Skaugum belonged to the Church of Mary and the Convent of Nonneseter. In 1909, a Norwegian government minister named Fritz Wedel-Jarlsberg purchased the property, and he later offered to sell the residence to Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha in 1929 after they married.
A fire in 1930 meant that a new house at Skaugum needed to be built, with Arnstein Arneberg tasked with its design, and the new residence was completed two years later. The future King Harald was born at Skaugum Estate in 1937, and it remained King Olav’s official residence until 1968, when he gifted it to his son and daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Sonja.
Photo: Sølve Sundsbø / The Royal Court
As Norway’s first queen consort since 1938, Queen Sonja brought back the spectacle and glamour of a queen when her husband, King Harald, came to the throne in January 1991.
As a major representative of Norway, both home and abroad, Queen Sonja has many majestic tiaras at her disposal. Today, we’re going to look at some of her most magnificent jewels.
Composed of four diamond Maltese crosses on a diamond bandeau frame, the Maltese Cross Tiara originated in the United Kingdom as a tiara for Queen Alexandra following the death of Edward VII. It was designed to look similar to the George IV State Diadem, and its four crosses are detachable to be worn in different configurations. It also featured four fleur-de-lys settings that were later removed.
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The royals congregate at Sandringham House over Christmas
The Queen congregates with her family
in the saloon at Sandringham House over Christmas, and we can imagine it is particularly cosy and inviting during the winter thanks to the grand fireplace that sits at one end of the room, with carved wooden panelling overhead where decorative plates are on display.
4. Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon s living room at Skaugum
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon s living room features a beautiful fireplace
The grey marble hearth and mantelpiece dominates one wall in
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon s living room at their Oslo residence. It has a striking painting hanging overhead, while two sofas and an upholstered coffee table are positioned directly in front, as seen here when the couple hosted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2018.