For the first time in her life as a royal, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is flying solo. Upon returning to her homeland from Australia, while on holiday from her studies in social sciences at the University of Sydney, the royal embarked on her first official solo trip.
Four days after celebrating her 22nd birthday on January 21, Princess Ingrid Alexandra headed to the Norwegian county of Finnmark, one of the northernmost areas of Europe bordering Finland and Russia. The destination held a special meaning for the royal, as it was the same place her grandparents, King Harald and Queen Sonia, traveled to shortly after their wedding in 1969. The eldest daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mette-Marit Tjessem Høiby spent her first night in Karasjok, where she had the opportunity to meet a family of reindeer herders and was introduced to the customs of the Sámi, the indigenous people who inhabit this area. Visits to the Karasjok School and Sami Parliament followed.
Next, the princess travels to another locality, where she is expected to drive a dog sled, the usual means of transport in this region, and in the afternoon, she will meet with a group of local businesspeople and volunteers. The official website of the Norwegian royal house has shared an image of the princess enjoying one of the usual northern lights that can be seen in the area.
Ingrid soon returns to Australia to continue her studies. Her departure coincides with the start of the trial against her brother Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Princess Mette-Marit, who is facing 32 charges, including rape, assault, and narcotics charges. He has no intention of pleading guilty to the most serious charges, according to his attorney, Petar Sekulik. “Our client denies all allegations of sexual abuse, as well as most allegations of violence,” Sekulik said in a statement to the New York Post. “He will present a detailed account of his version of events before the court.”
Princess Ingrid Alexandra spoke tersely about the case involving her half-brother during an interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK last November. “Of course it’s difficult. Both for those of us who are around, for me as a sister, and for mom and dad. And, of course, for everyone affected by the case,” she said, per an English translation by People. When asked what it was like to be “far away” in Australia as the legal drama unfolded, the princess replied, “Yes, it is…I don’t know if I want to go into it much more than that.”
Princess Ingrid Alexandra will be the first woman to occupy the Norwegian throne in 600 years. The last queen was Margaret of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, who reigned from 1387 to 1412. Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s grandfather, King Harald V, at 88 years old, is the longest-reigning monarch of his country. With her first solo trip in the books, all eyes are on Ingrid Alexandra as the future of the Norwegian crown.
Originally published in Vanity Fair Spain.