Norwegian Royals at National Day

As an added bonus, after the state visit, Norway also celebrated its National Day. Despite the crowds after the state visit, Crown Princess Mette-Marit was there. How nice that it worked out health-wise.

Back to the National Day. At 10.30 am, King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra arrived on the balcony of the Royal Palace in Oslo to enjoy the children’s parade.

A saluting Ingrid Alexandra.

Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Ingrid Alexandra started the day this morning by welcoming the children’s parade in Asker, outside Skaugum, where the Crown Prince family lives.

Prince Sverre Magnus as Russ

Prince Sverre Magnus was not there this time. The prince graduated from Elvebakken High School in Oslo and is celebrating with his fellow students. He studied information technology and media production. He now celebrates Russ with his own school. Russ or Russfeiring is the name in Norway for the parties at which students exuberantly say goodbye to their high school years, in Norway the Videregående skole. The tradition of these parties originated in 1905 in Kristiana. The concept of Russ and the celebrations come from an older tradition in Denmark, where it was an initiation rite for students, comparable to hazing. The Russetid generally ends on the national holiday. The special Russkrant, which the students made, will be sold on this day. In many places there is a separate Russetog, a parade in which Russgoers jump and dance through the village or city. The 18-year-old prince is not a member of the Royal House, but a member of the royal family. King Harald announced this two days after his birth in 2005.

Fashion Sonja

Queen Sonja wears a cream-colored jacket from Emilio Pucci, on a blue dress with white dots.

Fashion Mette-Marit

In the morning, Crown Princess Mette-Marit wore a traditional bunad. The dress consists of wool, detailed embroidery and brooches. Each region has its own bunad with a unique design. There are therefore no fewer than 450 types of bunads. Mette-Marit has several bunads. In 2023 (see photo below) she wore a bunad with beautiful embroidery on her skirt.

For the parade at the royal palace, Mette-Marit changed into regular clothes. There, Mette-Marit wears a cream-colored dress from Valentino, with a red headband with a bow, a design by Jane Taylor.

Fashion Ingrid Alexandra

Princess Ingrid Alexandra wore her Numedalsbunad in the morning. This was a gift for her 18th birthday. However, she only got it last year. The bunad had been waiting for the princess for a year, but we had to wait for the message from the palace. What an honor it will be for the makers that she wore the bunad this year!

Ingrid Alexandra has another bunad. She wore this during her confirmation and during the national holiday in 2022. Ingrid received this bunad from 1880, which was renovated especially for her. This bunad has the symbols of Ost-Telemark. Ingrid was allowed to choose elements that she wanted incorporated. This project together with her grandmother, Queen Sonja.

On the balcony of the royal palace, Ingrid Alexandra dresses in her uniform.