The Norwegian Royal Court has released a new photo, taken by her father Crown Prince Haakon, to mark Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 14th birthday on 21 January 2018.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra was born at 9.13 am on 21 January 2004 at Rikshospitalet University Hospital in Oslo.
However, she has an older half-brother, Marius Borg Høiby, born in 1997, from her mother Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s previous relationship.
The Princess is second in line of succession, following her father Crown Prince Haakon, to the Norwegian throne.
Norway changed their constitution in 1990 to introduce absolute primogeniture, ensuring the crown passed to the Crown Prince’s eldest child, regardless of gender.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s position in the succession did not change when her younger brother, Sverre Magnus was born on 3 December 2005.
The Norwegian Royal Family is also in the line of succession to the British throne, as they are descended from Edward VII’s daughter, Maud, who married King Haakon VII. However, her brother Sverre Magnus precedes Princess Ingrid Alexandra due to the male-preference primogeniture which was in place when she was born.
Bishop Gunnar Stålsett christened Princess Ingrid Alexandra on 17 April 2004 in the Palace Chapel. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria, King Felipe VI of Spain, Princess Märtha Louise, and Ms Marit Tjessem, her maternal grandmother were chosen as godparents.
Education
Princess Ingrid Alexandra began attending a day-care centre in Asker on 4 January 2006. She began attending a local state school, Jansløkka Primary School, on 19 August 2010, (her mother’s 37th birthday) where her older brother Marius was a student. The Crown Prince Couple wanted their daughter to have a normal childhood as possible and to enjoy some relief from public scrutiny.
However, on 19 August 2014, which again coincided with her mother’s 41st birthday, Princess Ingrid Alexandra transferred to the private Oslo International School at Bekkestua to start 5th grade.
Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit reportedly wanted their daughter to be fluent in English and to attend a school with children from many different countries to better prepare Princess Ingrid Alexandra for her future role as Queen.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra is expected to become Norway’s second female monarch, after Margaret I who reigned from 3 August 1387 to 28 October 1412.
Official Engagements
Princess Ingrid Alexandra has already carried out several official engagements, including the traditional ski jumping tournament at Holmenkollen in Oslo.
She regularly joins her grandparents King Harald V and Queen Sonja, her parents and other members of the Royal Family on the Palace balcony to greet the annual Norwegian Constitutional Day’s children’s parade on 17 May.
The Princess also served as a junior bridesmaid at her godmother Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden’s wedding to Daniel Westling on 19 June 2010.
On 12 February 2016, Harald V and Princess Ingrid Alexandra played roles during the Winter Youth Olympics’ opening ceremony at Lillehammer.
King Harald declared the Games open as Princess Ingrid Alexandra, following in her father’s footsteps, lit the cauldron.
Crown Prince Haakon lit the cauldron at the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer in 1994.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra and her brothers received the King Harald V Silver Jubilee Medal during her grandparent’s Silver Jubilee (25th Anniversary) in 2016.
More photos of Princess Ingrid Alexandra on the Norway Royal Family’s website: http://www.royalcourt.no/fotoalbum.html?tid=28779&sek=28634
