The Royal Court in Oslo revealed on Tuesday evening King Harald and Queen Sonja’s special confirmation gift to Princess Ingrid Alexandra. The gift to Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra on the occasion of her confirmation on August 31, 2019, is a Norwegian national costume. Also called a “bunad”.
The costume is a reconstructed women’s bunad from Aust-Telemark as it was designed in the period 1800-1850. The Princess has chosen elements for the costume, and Her Majesty the Queen has taken an active part in the project. The Princess will use the costume for the first time on her confirmation day, this Saturday, August 31st.
This is not the only national costume that the Princess has. As recently as last year, she has appeared on the Royal Palace balcony in a beautiful bunad, and several of her costumes were on display in Queen Sonja’s Art Gallery last year.
It is no coincidence that the Princess has chosen to have another bunad with roots from the region of Vest-Agder. Her mother, the Crown Princess, originates from this part of Norway, which lies to the south in the country. On May 17 this year, Princess Ingrid Alexandra wore another national costume she has from the same region.
The Princess, who is second in line to the Norwegian throne, has taken her confirmation education in Asker church under the leadership of priest, Tor Øystein Vaaland and acting parish priest, Karoline Astrup.
On Saturday, the confirmation service will be performed by Oslo’s bishop, Kari Veiteberg and Bishop Helga Haugland Byfuglien. Princess Ingrid Alexandra, the elder child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, was baptised in the Palace Church in April 2004. She was carried into her christening by her grandfather, King Harald V – he was also one of her godparents. Her other godparents are King Felipe VI of Spain, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Marit Tjessem. Many of them will attend the confirmation on Saturday.
Royal Central will give you the latest from the confirmation in Oslo this Saturday; stay tuned.
