The death of Harald V of Norway has left his son Haakon at the helm of the Crown, the new monarch who, in his first speech as such, inevitably remembered his father. "He was always consistent with his values and fulfilled his commitments," he emphasized. Personally, he said of him that he was warm and that "he took care of us all," before addressing the Norwegians as their new king: "Now that my father has left us, I have a great task ahead. He always reminded us in the family that everyone should do things their own way. It's my turn," he stated. His new position as monarch also displaces that of his daughter Ingrid Alexandra (22), who is now first in line to the throne, and also that of his son Sverre Magnus (20), who holds the second position.
The Norwegian press analyzes the new role of Haakon and Mette-Marit's children, especially that of Ingrid Alexandra. The heiress had been preparing for the role she now formally assumes for years. Her new position implies increasing her institutional presence despite studies remaining a top priority.
Her popularity has grown as she has taken on commitments with the Crown. The World Cup was a good example: the images of the princess in the stands, celebrating Norway's victory over Brazil and later congratulating the players, showed a spontaneous side. Norwegians have seen her grow up and now begin to see her as the future queen.
When she turned 18 in 2022, she was asked if she often thought about being a princess. "No," she replied, adding that it was moments like that interview that reminded her of her status. She acknowledged that with adulthood comes a time for responsibility and expectations, but also for freedom.
Her way of talking about the future also does not fit the image of a constrained princess. When she decided to go to Australia to study, she explained that she wanted to gain new perspectives "on European and international politics." She enrolled in Social Sciences at the University of Sydney, specializing in international relations. "I believe my education will be very relevant to the work I do in the future," she explained.
The Australian experience showed her less institutional side. Ingrid mentioned that she enjoyed Sydney and university life, although being far from Norway was difficult and the paparazzi made her uncomfortable. Regarding the situation of her stepbrother, Marius Borg Høiby, she admitted that it was difficult for her and her family. When asked about the future of the monarchy, she replied that its continuity or disappearance was "a democratic decision of the Norwegian people."
Outside of protocol, another part of her personality emerges: sports. She practices surfing, skiing, and climbing, among other disciplines. She has grown up in front of Norwegians discreetly: she studied, did 15 months of military service, and went to Australia. When her mother's health deteriorated, she returned to Norway. The equation has changed for her. The death of Harald and the arrival of her father to the throne have turned that young woman who barely thought about being a princess into the future queen of Norway.