Ingrid Alexandra's first day at school - August 19th 2010

[Zonk]

Where has the time gone indeed? I remember the announcement of her birth!

She looks excited and nervous. I hope the press will leave her alone now. And how about Haakon....introducing himself to fellow parents. Very cute family!

[4Pam]

What an exciting day for the NRF! Ingrid looks like she had some fun.

[jen121419]

I have to admit, I have a soft spot for Ingrid. She is such a precious little girl. How exciting for her to start school already. Where has the time gone?

[Tiggersk8]

Lovely the family came out like it did to support Ingrid on her First Day of School.

I'll admit though giggling a little over Haakon introducing himself to the other parents....I could see them thinking, "Yes Your Royal Highness, we know who *you* are."

I really hope the Press leaves her alone now.

[Her_Majesty]

Originally Posted by Tiggersk8

I really hope the Press leaves her alone now.

I'm somehow sure they will. There are rarely any paparazzi pictures or something like that of the NRF at all.
The press was also joining IA during her first day at the day care center. Afterwards there were never any pictures taken showing IA in the day care. There are also no pictures of Sverre Magnus in the day care center. The press quite leaves the children alone. So, I'm quite sure it will stay like that.

[vestfoldlilja]

Great photos and videos, and wonderful to see the Princess walk between her parents and lates greeting everyone. I loved it when she sang along with the school song, already knowing it. She’s such a sweet girl and so calm even with all the press and attention. It’s nice to see her interact with some of her friends; when they stand in line waiting or sit some tables apart inside.

I like how one woman asked the Princess if it was alright if they took pictures of her when she was seated at her able, and she just nodded, and looked at the camera with a small smile. She’s really matured these last two years in regards to being in the spotlight.

It was lovely to see the King and Mette Marit’s mother present at well. The Kings said about Princess Ingrid Alexandra: “I’m very proud of her, but then I always am.” He also said that she was mature and ready to start school. They all looked very happy and proud.

I think the press with let The Princess have school be a private matter and leave her alone. They, and everyone else have already in the previous years seen a lot more of her and I am sure that will only increase as she gets older. There will be many more places and opportunities to take her picture. The headmistress also said that she and the school will try and ensure that the Princess’s schooling will be as normal as possible after this first day.

And it is doubtful she will be unguarded and I am sure any problem with unwanted people on school grounds will be dealt with by security, and that the Princess will be guarded against unwanted and bothersome attention.

It looks like the other children handled the press well as well, but I am sure they have been made aware by the school and their parents.

[Kenya]

Originally Posted by Tiggersk8

I'll admit though giggling a little over Haakon introducing himself to the other parents....I could see them thinking, "Yes Your Royal Highness, we know who *you* are."

I loved that. He's a true prince, in every respect of the word.

[Alison20]

Didn't Ingrid Alexandra carry the day off well! She was so calm - no bashfulness or silliness (and she is still so young!). It was also lovely, that - like many other children - she had grandparents there too. Queen Sonia must have regretted having a previous commitment.

I have watched a couple of the videos, and I would be very grateful if someone could translate for me what the King said to the media. Unfortunately, my knowledge of Norwegian is almost non-existant.

[vestfoldlilja]

Some things the King said; about the Princess, his own school days and the choice in school The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have made for the Princess.

“Yes, I am very proud today, but then I am proud of her everyday.”
“She’s mature enough to start school, and ready for this.”

“I started in first grade in the US when I was five and a half years old. No one from the press was present. It was more attention when I got back home to Norway in 1945 and started in third grade.”

“I think it’s very good that Ingrid Alexandra will go to the local school; then she will be able to walk to school as all the other children”

Regn på prinsessens første skoledag| God Morgen Norge

Translations from the article above; all the quotes are things the headmistress have said.

“It can be a little scary to have their named called in front of everyone.”

“It’s a special day for everyone who starts school, and not everything will revolve around the Princess.”

They have taken into account that there will be attention from the press, and the school has a running collaboration with the palace.

“We’ve had some meetings and we collaborate very well. I feel they have good control over all this”

“It’s not possible to get pass that we’re in focus. Everyone who works here have had questions asked that we don’t know how will be handled after they have been answered, so we have agreed not to say anything at all.”

It has taken planning and preparation to ensure that the Princess’s school days are as normal as possible.

“It’s been important to us that the Princess will be left in peace as much as possible and have asked parents and children with help in that regard”
This has been an on going process ahead of the school start.

In answer to what kind of security measures there will be around the Princess, the headmistress answers; “We don’t need to think about that; that will be handled by her police/security escort. Many parents have asked how it will be in regards to press and security, and what I can say is that our school will be the most secure one in Norway.

In regards to the school choice she has this to say.

“We think it’s a nice choice and we hope they will feel they have made the right choice. We will do our best to ensure they will. An important task for us is to take some of the pressure she (The Princess) perhaps experiences other places, so that she can be her self, make friends and get a normal schooling as possible.”

The Princess will attend SFO (a after-school program) and the local population can expect to see the Princess around the local community with her class.

[Alison20]

Thank you, vestfoldlilja. That makes everything much clearer.

[Kastalia]

She was very cute while greeting her classmate across their classroom.Aww,those kids are really adorable. :)

[bluestocking]

She's such a cute little girl. It's sensible of them to try to give her as ordinary a childhood as possible.

[Opal]

Such an important day for Ingrid Alexandra. It's great that both her parents accompanied her. That makes it easier.

[RubyPrincess168]

I like that they are sending her to the local school, and they're letting her walk to school with her older brother. I also hope the press leaves her alone, although walking to school (even with security guards present) seems like asking for trouble.

[Marika86]

Ingrid Alexandra is so cute and beautiful!!
It's great to see the presence of King Harald in this day so special for her! : )

I found this article on Hello!:

http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty...mette-marit/1/

[KitKat2006]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

In England we don't start school until around September time.

Originally Posted by Shikha Pal

in my country (India) the school academic year is from june-april. and the usual age of starting school is 3.

In Germany school starts somewhere in between the first days of August and the first days of September after 6 weeks of summer holidays. It depends on in which the federal state of Germany you live and it changes every year. Sometimes you have summer holidays from mid-June to August, sometimes from July to mid-August and sometimes from mid-July to September.

Also the starting days in school are different from federal-state to federal-state. I know it's saturday for Lower Saxony (where I'm from) and tuesday for Northrhine-Westfalia (if my source tells the truth). And in Lower Saxony (and I think in every other german federal-state as well) the day starts with a special church service for the little ones, their families and godparents. I was so proud when my little godson had his first day in 2005. So in some ways I can imagine how MM and H (along with the grandparents) where feeling today.

Originally Posted by Tiggersk8

Lovely the family came out like it did to support Ingrid on her First Day of School.

I'll admit though giggling a little over Haakon introducing himself to the other parents....I could see them thinking, "Yes Your Royal Highness, we know who *you* are."

I really hope the Press leaves her alone now.

What do you think he said? "Hello, I'm Haakon. Nice to met you."? It must be a funny moment for whatever parent he introduced himself to.

I wouldn't know for sure what to answer. I mean, he's the crownprince after all but in that moment he would be nothing more than me: An excited and proud parent who accompanies his little girl to her first day of school. So it would be normal to say "Nice to meet you, Haakon. I'm XY. You've an adorable little girl. My son/daughter is the one over there."

But still, it would feel funny, because, after all, he is the crownprince.

Originally Posted by windsorgirl

I think it's wonderful that Ingrid Alexandra is attending her local public school. Such a cool classroom -- very sleek and Scandinavian-looking (what a surprise, I know) and I love the students' chairs with integrated foot rests, too.

I can absolutely second that. The classroom looks really comfy and warm. The students will have a lot of fun learning there I'm sure. And those chairs a definitely interesting. Nothing like those awful chairs we had when I was in school (years ago). Some very intelligent person did a great job with those chairs. But he shouldn't have stopped thinking at the feet, because then they wouldn't have to "slaughter" poor, innocent tennis balls.


Oh, and I definitely should get into contact with MM or H or someone from the royal court, because I absolutely love the pullover IA is wearing. I want one of those for the up-coming fall/winter, too. One in white and one in brown if it's possible. But I don't know where to get one.

[MissP]

I-A is just adorable! I really love this family. They all come across so well.

[yoyo1987]

in England we start the school the first week of september.
Good luck little princess

[Turkish Delight]

What a cute & lovely girl! She seems to enjoy in her first day.
I wonder how old is she?

[Fanvanmaxima]

She is 6 years old.