Ingrid Alexandra's 18th birthday: 21 January, 2022 & birthday celebrations

[Marchesina]

Originally Posted by Prinsara

Her family does call her Ingrid. So do her friends, presumably. The double names are more of a formality on her side; see her father and brother. Märtha Louise seems to take them a bit more seriously.



And IA's parents said they were toying with the idea of naming her Thyra Eufemia! — but decided not to.

Thyra is a beautiful name, Eufemia on the other hand...

[ROYAL NORWAY]

I forgot to respond to this quote yesterday.

Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Royal Norway, enormous thanks for the livestream links, smart commentary, and wealth of background information! Interesting that these dinners are happening amidst a very royalist atmosphere concerning the crown princely family, but also against the backdrop of a storm over Durek Verrett's characterization of the Norwegian public. I also wonder how the Bislett Games/VG-lista-concert and the royal festivities will affect one another's TV ratings.

You're welcome!

Well, Bislett Games (at least some parts of it) most likely beat the government-dinner yesterday, but I won't be surprised if the gala dinner and ball this evening beats the VG-lista-concert.

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Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

I would love to know a bit more about the cultural performances "linking Norway's history to its present and future" (to quote the press release) and which historical events they were connected to.

Regarding the theatrical performance, the medieval costuming was simple but still lovely, and the actress playing Queen Margrete I (?) was amazingly charismatic. I'm particularly curious about the subject of her monologues, and of the earlier reading(?) from writer Lars Saabye Christensen.

I actually turned off the sound on the TV and laptop during the entertainment but will go through it in a few days (and then perhaps write a summary about it).

Royal House-article about the dinner yesterday with a bit about the entertainment (link) - google-translation (link).

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Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

Thank you! So, the princess kept it short and sweet, mainly thanking those involved in the event and thanking the general public for building Norway's strong democracy and sense of community. While it is a perfectly fine speech, I must admit I don’t see it as deserving of staggering amounts of praise.

Yes, It was a thanking-speech for having received the dinner as a birthday-gift. But she also said that her visits to the 3 state authorities in January (i.e. the parliament, supreme court and the prime minister's office) ''were really a reminder of how lucky we are here in Norway.''
That it was ''a reminder of our democracy and the secure governance system we have.'' And ''what we Norwegians have built up over a long period of time, and which we continue to develop, and protect, every day.''

She went on to say that she ''feel very lucky to have grown up in a country where we trust each other, and where we together try to find good solutions. Solutions that enable as many people as possible to have it as best as possible. This is a principle that it is important that we in Norway uphold.''

Because ''trust'' she said ''is not created by individuals, politicians or institutions alone. It is created by all of us - together. I am glad to share that with all of you who are here today, and all who live in our country.''

So IMO a very good and grown up speech by an 18-year-old!

It actually gave me King Harald vibes (and he and Haakon have probably advised her on what to say).

Royal historian Trond Norén Isaksen, OTOH, said that Ingrid didn't take any special rhetorical moves, or that she used some big metaphorical leaps. But said that It was a fairly simple and straightforward speech.

Well, she's 18!

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Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

I notice the salutation of the speech did not include "Your Majesties" or some other phrase referring to the members of the Royal Family, which would be the usual protocol for speeches at European royal events. I thought that was also the case in Norway, but I may very well be mistaken.

Well, it is! And she did it during her confirmation speech at the luncheon at the palace in 2019 and will probably do it tonight.
But the dinner yesterday was hosted by the government and not attended by foreign royals, so she just said: ''President of the Storting, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, dear everyone.''

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Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

I also notice that the Prime Minister's speech addressed Princess Ingrid Alexandra as "du".

Is there also a transcript of the prime minister's speech?

1. It's quite usual in egalitarian Norway to use ''du'' (which is the informal you) instead of ''de'' (which is the formal one). QMII and Prince Joachim of Denmark BTW seem to love the latter and have actually reprimanded Danish journalists for saying du instead of de.

2. Yes! And here it is in Norwegian (link) - google-translation (link).

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Originally Posted by Tatiana Maria

While I'm sure no one objected, in my personal opinion it would have been preferable for the King or Crown Prince to escort Princess Ingrid Alexandra during her entrance and exit instead of the Prime Minister. I'm aware that he is good personal friends with the family and especially the Crown Prince, but I think that is actually another reason why a different companion would have been better.


Can anyone recall the table partners of the royal family members and Durek?

1. It's usual for the prime minister to escort the royal guest of honour during government-dinners.

2. Then I have to look at the broadcast, which I don't have time to do now. But you can read the names at Ingrid's table in the Royal House article above.

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Originally Posted by muriel

Lets hope we get to see some snippets of it.

Originally Posted by Stefan

Hopefully there will be some Coverage of it like it was when Haakon turned 18.

I have gone through the TV-Gude from 1991 (in the digital newspaper-archives) and there I saw that the white-tie gala dinner/ball at the palace for Haakon wasn't televised, we only got some short film-clips on the television news and an hour-long documentary, which also showed some clips of it (watch the documentary here - link - you can see it at the beginning and at the end).

Tonight, OTOH, the broadcasters are allowed to televise (on and off) from the palace from 19:00 to around 23:15.
But since VG writes that the ball will start after that, I doubt we will see the dancing live, but let's hope we will get some clips of it.
There will BTW be party at the palace throughout the night.

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Originally Posted by principessa

Is it possible to watch the dinner tomorrow without geoblocking?

Didn't the live-links that I posted yesterday work in Germany? Because I think you should be able to see it.
Will post new ones this evening, unless others do it before me.

[principessa]

Yesterday I wasn't able to watch because I was returning home from a trip.

[Stefanie]

When will the Broadcast start tonight?

[samitude]

I think this is where the broadcast can be viewed. https://tv.nrk.no/se?v=NNFA31000822

[ROYAL NORWAY]

I don't know if that link will work outside Norway, but I will post others when it starts around 19:00 (an hour from now).

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by Stefan

The Royal House just had released new official Pics of the Princess were she wears the Pearl circle tiara, the order of St. Olav and the King Portrait Order https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce5UFptoc-L/?hl=de

I´m so disappointed about this choice of tiara! I was hoping for the other one Ragnhild sometimes wore. But this one, in my opinion, is the ugliest of the NRF... Still, beautiful Princess Ingrid can, perhaps, get away with every bad looking garment or piece of jewel and everything will look good on her!

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Maybe both CP Mary and Queen Letizia feel that their children should not attend a gala dinner before they turn 18.


King Felipe VI probably had to go as he is one of Ingrid Alexandra's godparents. Still, the presence of the King of Spain alone without his consort will unfortunately feed the trolls in the Spanish gossip press who have been pushing the story that Letizia doesn't get along with other European royals and avoids those kinds of gatherings. To make things worse, she and Felipe already missed King Harald V's 80th birthday gala.

Yes lots of articles in the press about the absence of Letizia, most speculate that she does not want to be seen with Princess MC of Greece, who mocked Letizia on her twitter account after Mallorga-gate

https://www.lecturas.com/actualidad/...noruega_122292

Back on topic - IA is absolutely stunning!

[cdm]

I always found Ingrid Alexandra’s face a combination of her parents, her fathers colouring and her mother’s bone structure.
In these pictures she has something of the young Queen Sonja.

[samitude]

Ingrid Alexandra is stunning. I remember that first hospital picture of her as a newborn baby. My first thought was, "She's a beautiful baby!" Her eyes were open and she wasn't red or wrinkled. Just looks around like she was content with the world.

[Prinsara]

Since there hasn't been a gathering like this since before the pandemic, it seems both nice and poignant that the beautiful princess is doing exactly what a true princess is meant to do — spread hope, joy and togetherness.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Alisa

Yes!!!!!!!! Wohooo!! She looks amazing, beautiful, and very regal. I am loving the way the Norwegian Royal Family is celebrating Ingrid's 18th birthday.
I wish the Dutch royal house had done something similar for the Princess of Oranje.

Given the critics on the Orange-Nassaus travelling to their villa in Greece during lockdown and given the critics on the Princess of Orange for having around two dozen of guests in the garden for her graduation, while there were restrictions, the Court wisely kept it low key.

This celebration for Princess Ingrid Alexandra was delayed due to COVID. So there is always a possibility that the Princess of Orange retroactively celebrates her 18th birthday as well. Who knows. In the past it was similarly celebrated for Princess Beatrix: with a Government banquet in The Hague and a royal gala banquet in Amsterdam.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

I´m so disappointed about this choice of tiara! I was hoping for the other one Ragnhild sometimes wore. But this one, in my opinion, is the ugliest of the NRF...

The ugliest one really. for me that prize goes to Sonja #s modern gold tiara or the Malteser tiara with the crosses. As much as i would like to see Queen Maud's diamond tiara worn again it is too big and much for an 18 years old girl, even more if her mother sticks to her daisy bandeau.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by cdm

I always found Ingrid Alexandra’s face a combination of her parents, her fathers colouring and her mother’s bone structure.
In these pictures she has something of the young Queen Sonja.

yes and Sonja looks like Haakon.
I always thought IA was more MM but not compared to this photo.
https://scontent-dus1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...DA&oe=62D33827

[polyesco]

Shaman Durek sends a special message to Ingrid-Alexandra "It is an honor to become your future uncle."
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce5EPLQoS7a/

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by polyesco

Shaman Durek sends a special message to Ingrid-Alexandra "It is an honor to become your future uncle."
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce5EPLQoS7a/

Words fail me...

[Prinsara]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Words fail me...

Polite ones fail me.

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by Stefan

The ugliest one really. for me that prize goes to Sonja #s modern gold tiara or the Malteser tiara with the crosses. As much as i would like to see Queen Maud's diamond tiara worn again it is too big and much for an 18 years old girl, even more if her mother sticks to her daisy bandeau.

Touchè - you are right. But the Maltese diadem is only unflattering, so to speak, in its present form, with the 3 crosses on the front. The way it was originally worn by Queen Maud, it looked superbly regal!
When it come to the Crown Princess, for a lady soon approaching her 50th birthday, she should have worn a more grown-up jewellery long before. I think Queen Maud´s diamond tiara would be great for her these days! And the Daisy bandeau could be worn by her daughter from time to time.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Yes lots of articles in the press about the absence of Letizia, most speculate that she does not want to be seen with Princess MC of Greece, who mocked Letizia on her twitter account after Mallorga-gate

https://www.lecturas.com/actualidad/...noruega_122292

Back on topic - IA is absolutely stunning!

To be honest I don't think these gatherings are really Queen Letizia's cup of tea and add the presence of Crown Princess Marie Chantal and I assume hell will freeze over quicker.


Back to the Birthday Gala really looking forward to the photos and clips from later and could well have done without reading the comments of Shaman Durek before I eat my dinner!

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Well, as I've done in other threads during white-tie gala dinners, let's go through the happenings in detail:

At around 19:30 (30-min from now), the guests will be greeted by the royals in the Hall of Mirrors (the name is due to the mirrors on the doors; it's also referred to as the Music hall). - Photos of the room: 1 - 2.

They will then walk into the Smal Dining Hall. - Photo of the room: 1 - 2.

And then into the Smal Ballroom. - Photo of the room: 1 - 2.

And then into the Great Ballroom. - 3 good photos of the room in this Royal House-article (link).

And then into the Banqueting Hall. - Photo of the room (link).

Around 20:00, the royal procession will go through the same beautiful rooms. And after entering the Banqueting Hall, well, be ready for several speeches.

Later in the evening, ball with a polonaise and a father-daughter dance with Haakon and Ingrid.

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And be aware that there are two types of white-tie gala dinners at the palace:

1. Gala-dinners during state visits and royal weddings for heirs, where the King and Crown Prince are in uniforms (this will also apply to foreign male royals who are in a position to wear one).
2. Gala-dinners during milestone royal birthdays and other anniversaries, where the King and Crown Prince are in white-tie (which is what we will see this evening).

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Live-links from NRK (link) - TV2 (link) - VG (link) and Dagbladet (link).