On Friday, Princess Ingrid Alexandra celebrated her 18th birthday in a grand style.
She celebrated her milestone birthday in January, but because of the pandemic, she postponed any public celebrations.
This week, glamorous European royals gathered in Oslo’s Royal Palace for the magnificent event.
In a burgundy floor-length gown studded with medals, a magnificent tiara, and lilac heels, the Princess exuded elegance.
Her parents, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and his wife Mette-Marit, as well as her grandparents, Queen Sonja and King Harald, attended her birthday celebration.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra attended a cabinet meeting at the Royal Palace with her grandfather, reigning King Harald V, to honor her coming of age.
Ingrid Alexandra will raise her public profile and take on additional responsibilities on behalf of the royal family in the coming years, according to the palace, although she will continue to focus on her studies.
Crown Prince Haakon ensured her place in the line of succession by amending the legislation to allow first-born girls to ascend the throne over their younger male siblings. As a result of her birthday, she can now act as Regent of Norway if necessary.
Haakon, 48, ascended the throne ahead of his older sister Princess Märtha Louise, who is now engaged to Durek, 47, and has been with him since 2019.
Princess Märtha Louise, 50, fourth in line to the Norwegian throne, and her fiance Shaman Durek were among those in attendance for the birthday celebration.
Last week, the mother-of-three released her official engagement photo on Instagram, which featured a stunning emerald ring.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Ingrid Alexandra’s other godmothers, including her Highness Princess Märtha Louise, and Ms Marit Tjessem, the Crown Princess’s mother, were also present.
Because King Felipe VI and King Harald, as well as the Danish Queen and Queen Margrethe II, are all descended from Queen Victoria and King Christian IX, the Spanish King was chosen as one of the adolescent princess’s godparents.
Meanwhile, Ingrid Alexandra’s grandfather, King Harald, is a first cousin of Queen Margrethe of Sweden, and Crown Princess Victoria is a cousin twice removed, granting her a place on Ingrid Alexandra’s royal godparents list.
When her father, 48, abdicates the throne, Ingrid Alexandra will become Norway’s first female queen in 600 years.
Gert’s Royals, a Royal blog, stated that Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, along with their daughter Princess Amalia, were among the first royals to RSVP to the event.
The celebrations were also attended by Ingrid Alexandra’s Spanish godfather, Felipe VI, and his wife, Queen Letizia.
Ingrid Alexandra’s godparents, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, were both present with their spouses.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon praised her and assured her of her new responsibilities in letters to the Princess.
Crown Prince Hakon said: ‘Berit’s husband Bjørn has talked to me a number of times about duty as a value, as a positive force. I am not certain whether it was something he mostly said to me or whether he talked to others about it as well. It is fully possible to find freedom even in doing one’s duty. ‘
Crown Princess Mette-Marit wrote: ‘Those of us who know you know how much you love your country. How greatly you enjoy travelling to different parts of Norway. About how extra proud you feel wearing your sweater with NOREG printed on it.
‘Dearest daughter, you are not the only one who is turning 18 this year. So are 57 000 other young people throughout Norway
‘More people got to know you a little better in connection with your birthday in January. You gave your first interviews, had meetings with the branches of the government and received various deputations here at the Palace.
‘All of this has conjured up a lot of memories for me. Because I have been in the same situation as you, and I found myself contemplating myself as an 18-year-old.