Norway: King Harald presents future queen with two special honours

NordenBladet – To mark her 18th birthday, King Harald of Norway has appointed his granddaughter, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, to the highest civilian order in Norway.

Harald has appointed Ingrid Alexandra to the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. The order dates back to 1847, when it was created by King Oscar I to honour King Olav II. Olav II was posthumously named St Olav, as he was canonised after his death which then helped spread Christianity amongst Norse populations.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra was made a Grand Cross of the Order. Following the Grand Cross members, there are two divisions of Commander (Commander With Star and Commander) and then two divisions of Knight (Knight 1st Class and Knight).

According to the Norwegian court, the medal is:

“The Insignia of the Order is a white-enamelled Maltese cross made of gold. In its centre is a crimson medallion encircled by a blue and white ring. The obverse of the medallion bears the Norwegian lion in gold, and on the reverse is the motto of King Oscar I “Ret og Sanhed”, meaning “Justice and Truth”. In the four corners between the arms of the cross is a Gothic O of gold surmounted by a crown.”

Both of the Princess’s parents, Crown Prince Haakon and his wife, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, have both been appointed to the Order of St. Olav.

The King also gave the Princess King Harald V’s House Order (a portrait pin). It is currently the only Royal Family Order in Norway and is awarded to female members of the Norwegian Royal Family.

Harald presented his granddaughter with both orders at a private ceremony on Friday, 21 January.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra will be the second Queen regnant of Norway, following Queen Margaret in the medieval period. To mark her historic birthday, she also attended a cabinet meeting with her grandfather; it was the first time an heir who is not directly in line for the throne attended.