CONFIRMATION of Norway's Princess Ingrid Alexandra (Saturday, 31 August 2019)

Last Saturday, HRH Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway confirmed her faith into the Norwegian protestant Church in a customary ceremony, like her father, grandfather & great-grandfather did in the past. The 15-year-old elder daughter of Crown Prince Haakon & first grandchild of King Harald V, Ingrid is the second direct heir to the throne of Norway.

Princess Ingrid (sitting centre) with her six godparents

Her six godparents (The King, King Felipe VI of Spain, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, her aunt Princess Martha Louise & her maternal grandmother, Marit Tjessem) attended the ceremony at the Palace Chapel in Oslo.

The ceremony began at 12pm local time and was conducted by the Bishop of Oslo, Keri Veiteberg, assisted by Bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien. The entire Royal family of Norway & its close relatives were in attendance. The service featured numerous songs, religious readings & even the recitation of a slam poetry about environment. At its main part the confirmant kneeled in front of the altar, with both priests touching her head, praying for her & 'telling God' that she'd chosen to follow Christianity. In her sermon spoken directly to the Princess, Bishop Veiteberg particularly emphasised Ingrid's commitment to the preservation of natural environment. In their programmes, the guests received a personal greetings by Ingrid Alexandra on an eco-friendly paper, that once placed on the earth "will in time grow into a variety of colourful summer flowers". Just before the service concluded, King Harald led the confirmant's godparents & brothers in lighting candles.

King Felipe VI & other godparents, lighting the candle

The confirmation ceremony (which is very common in Norway) lasted for approximately an hour. It was followed by the Princess & her father greeting well wishers from palace balcony & a reception for 159 attendees at the Banqueting Hall of the Royal Palace. The luncheon menu included salmon tartar with avocado & halicut with vegetables. The atmosphere was kept high in the Hall by the presence of 50 members of the Norwegian girls' choir, dressed in traditional bunad costums.

Queen Sonja's congratulatory speech

Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit's speeches

Grandfather/Godfather/King Harald V's congratulatory speech - Be YourSelf

It was additionally highlighted by the congratulatory speeches of Queen Sonja, King Harald, Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Ingrid's parents), Epsen Høiby (Ingrid's uncle) & at the end a speech of thanks by the Princess herself. Queen Sonja (Ingrid Alexandra's paternal grandmother) referred they "shared focal point", Ingrid's Bundad (colourful national costume), which she described as her granddaughter's "roots", literally carried by her. It was the gift HRH received by The Royal Couple for her confirmation, choosing its sub-element materials, with the Queen actively involved in the design project as well. King Harald V, from his part, made a semi-humorous speech, recalling Princess' christening day, and gave her a special advice as King, godfather & grandfather - to "Be Yourself. Find Your Own Path" in life & don't attempt to be someone else.

A private, black-tie dinner was followed the same

evening at the Royal Couple's Skaugum Estate.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (dressed in the Bundad) with her family

The same day official pictures of the confirmant wearing her Bundad & posing with her family & godparents were released by the Royal family's official website. Few more family photos of her earlier years were published in the previous days as well. An official congratulation protocol was furthermore opened at the palace on Friday (August 30) from 3 to 6pm, so well wishers to have the opportunity to sign it. For those who couldn't come, an online register was also open until the midnight of the actual confirmation day (Saturday). The government renamed a nature reserve after her.

Ingrid Alexandra (left) with her younger brother, Svere Magnus

Princess Ingrid Alexandra was born on 21 January 2004, the first child of Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit (nee Tjessem Høiby ). She has a younger brother, Prince Svere Magnus, 13, & an elder half-brother (from her mother's previous affair), Marius Borg Høiby , 22. She is the second in direct line of succession to the Norwegian throne following her father, the first female Hereditary Princess of Norway (since the succession law changed in 1990) & will (once ascends to the throne) the first female monarch of Norway since Margareta, who died back in 1412. Princess Ingrid has attended a special confirmation education in Asker church, ahead of her actual confirmation. Although the Norwegian monarch is no longer the Head of its church since 2017, the confirmation is very popular among ordinary teenagers, and it is still required from the head of state to follow the country's official religion. The last such confirmation of a direct heir to the throne was held back in 1988, when Ingrid's father, then Prince Haakon Magnus undertook a similar rite.