With the death of Harald V of Norway—the beloved “people’s king” who passed away at the age of 89—the throne passes to his son, Haakon, 53, who has already convened the Council of State in an extraordinary session to announce the name under which he intends to reign, Haakon VIII, and his motto: “Alt for Norge”—All for Norway—the same as his father’s. Accompanying the new monarch was his and Queen Mette-Marit’s eldest daughter, Ingrid Alexandra, 22, who is now first in line to the throne. When she ascends, she will become Norway’s first queen in 600 years. The Salic law, which excluded women from succession to the throne, was abolished in Norway on May 29, 1990. Born on January 21, 2004, Ingrid Alexandra will thus join Leonor of Spain, Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, and Elisabeth of Belgium as part of the new generation of queens who will reign in Europe in the coming years.
Ingrid Alexandra was born in the same Oslo hospital where King Harald V passed away. The eldest daughter of Haakon and Mette-Marit, she shares her father’s passion for surfing and skiing, and is also a kickboxing enthusiast. It’s not clear if romance is one of her current hobbies: In 2024, the Norwegian press revealed that, after two years of dating, she had broken up with her boyfriend, economics student Magnus Heien Haugstad.
Setting aside her love life, the crown princess and future monarch has been getting her royal reps in for years now. In the summer of 2016, she inaugurated a park bearing her name; in 2019, she served as a guide, alongside her grandmother Queen Sonja, for Prince William and Kate Middleton during their visit to Norway; last July, she attended the World Cup in the US, accompanied by brother Sverre Magnus. In January 2022, on the occasion of her 18th birthday, Ingrid gave a rare interview in which, speaking about her future as a monarch, she explained: “I have not gone to any queen school. However, I learn a lot from [King Harald] through everything he does and things he talks about. And then I think that in our role, the most important thing is not to be told what to do, but rather to make it your own. I have a lot of love for Norway.”
The princess’s 18th birthday was celebrated with a grand gala—attended by numerous royals—hosted by King Harald and Queen Sonja at the Royal Palace in Oslo. That evening, her grandmother described her as “wise, warm, and knowledgeable,” while her grandfather offered her a piece of advice that will stay with her for the rest of her life: “Be yourself. And trust that that will be enough—always.” For their part, Haakon and Mette-Marit reminded her that she has the freedom to shape her own role and find her own path, even if she makes mistakes. They added: “One of the things we appreciate about you, Ingrid, is the joy that lives in you and all the life you fill our home with. With friends, laughter, and loud music.”
