King Harald of Norway has opened up about his granddaughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s historic move to Sydney to complete university studies.
Ingrid, 21, is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit and is second in line to the Norwegian throne behind her father.
Last month, Norway’s royal palace confirmed the young royal, who recently completed military service, will commence undergraduate studies at the University of Sydney.
“Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra will begin her studies at the University of Sydney in August, enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts program,” the Norwegian Palace said in a press release.
It is understood the Princess will complete a three-year degree in social sciences at the historic sandstone university and reside on campus.
On Monday, Harald was asked about Ingrid’s decision to effectively leave her homeland for years and live on the opposite side of the globe.
“You get this back with compound interest when she gets home, so I think that’s just an advantage,” the monarch reportedly told Norwegian outlet VG.
“(Ingrid) must be allowed to study and get an education before she starts representing.”
The future Queen of the ancient Norwegian monarchy is the goddaughter of King Frederik of Denmark, the husband of Aussie-born Queen Mary.
The Norwegian Princess is only the latest in a long line of international royals who have completed part or all of their education in Australia.
Thailand’s reigning King Vajiralongkorn spent several years studying in Australia in the 1970s, while King Charles spent two terms at Geelong Grammar School in 1966.
Ingrid’s decision to study abroad follows in the footsteps of her father Haakon, who studied at University of California, Berkeley in the 1990s.
The timing of the move also comes after a rollercoaster year for the Norwegian royal family.
The country was scandalised last year after Ingrid’s half-brother Marius Borg Høiby was arrested on a string of sex assault charges – including two rapes – last August.
Mr Høiby is the 28-year-old son from Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s previous relationship before she married into the Norwegian monarchy and has no role in the royal family.