After King Harald passed away, King Haakon VIII has assumed the throne. His daughter, the 22-year-old Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, recently signed her oath to the Constitution, signaling a major shift for Norway.
A 600-year milestone: Ingrid Alexandra signs her oath to the Constitution
The recent transition in Norway marks a significant turning point for the monarchy. As the report states, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra took a written oath to the Constitution at the Castle, a document that was subsequently delivered to Parliament. This moment is particularly historic because Ingrid is the first female heir to the Norwegian throne in over 600 years.
This shift is the result of a long-standing legal evolution. In 1990, Norway rewrote its constitution to establish absolute primogeniture, ensuring that the throne would pass to the eldest child regardless of gender. as the first royal baby born under these new rules, Ingrid Alexandra represents the modern face of a monarchy that has been fundamentally restructured for equality.
The shift in royal titles for Queen Sonja and Queen Mette-Marit
The accession of King Haakon VIII has also triggered a unique change in how the royal women are addressed. For the first time in modern history, Norway will have two women holding the title of queen simultaneously. According to the report,while the widow Queen Sonja will keep her title, she will drop the designation "Her Majesty."
That specific title will now transition to Mette-Marit, who becomes the reigning monarch's wife. This dual-queen dynamic creates a complex new protocol for the Norwegian royal house as they navigate this period of mourning and transition.
Navigating Mette-Marit’s health and Marius Borg Høiby’s legal issues
The royal family is managing this transition while facing significant personal challenges. The palace has revealed that Crown Princess Mette-Marit is currently on a lung transplant waiting list,describing her medical condition as "life-threatening." This health crisis adds a layer of gravity to the family's recent period of mourning following the death of King Harald.
Furthermore, the family has dealt with recent legal scrutiny involving Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby. The report notes that Høiby was convicted and sentenced to four years in prison; while he is currently free, he remains under electronic monitoring while his appeal is pending. These overlapping personal crises come at a time when the monarchy is attempting to project stability.
Balancing university life with a historic new role
Despite the weight of her future responsibilities, Ingrid Alexandra is still navigating the typical milestones of her early twenties . The 22-year-old was recently seen on her first day at university, attempting to balance her education with her growing public profile. In a 2022 interview, she expressed a desire to approach her role with individuality, stating that the most important thing is to "make it your own" rather than simply following instructions.
However, several questions remain regarding how the Princess will manage her personal life moving forward. While there are mentions of a 20-year-old royal moving to Lisbon, Portugal, in the autumn, it remains unclear how much freedom the future queen will have to pursue international studies or private interests while fulfilling her constitutional duties.
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