Many royal families have specific residences that they use at certain times of the year, with many enjoying a specific summer residence. The Norwegian Royal Family’s summer home is a relatively new acquisition but King Harald and Queen Sonja spend each summer there now. 

The Norwegian Royal Family’s summer residence, Mågerø, is on the Mågerø peninsula on Tjøme island, an island in Eastern Norway. 

The King and Queen commissioned Lund Hagem Arkitekter to design the complex in 1991 after taking the throne. While the Royal Family did have prior homes on the island, none allowed for proper security to be in place. 

Mågerø has quite a different look from other royal palaces, as it was designed to blend in with the surrounding lands. As the Norwegian Royal Court explains, it is ”a contemporary interpretation of the basic principle of traditional Norwegian architecture: that a building should not pollute, either physically or visually, but should follow the rhythm of its natural surroundings.”

King Harald and Queen Sonja are often joined by their children and grandchildren at their summer retreat. However, it is not limited to the Norwegian Royal Family- several other European royals will come for a visit, including the Danish Royal Family, the Swedish Royal Family, and Luxembourgish Royal Family.