The Norwegian Royal Family celebrated Constitution Day on 17 May. They greeted the Children’s Parade both at Skaugum and at the Royal Palace in Oslo. At their home in Skaugum, they each wore a bunad and there is a very good reason why.
The Norwegian Royal Family will often wear bunads, the national costume, r for national holidays and significant events. They are given their own as a gift for major events, like their confirmation and big birthdays.
The bunad dates back to the pre-industrial period in Norway. Norway was in a union with Sweden from 1814 to 1905, and after dissolving the union, sought to reinstate their personal identity as a nation. The bunad we see today is based on a number of different folk costumes and was largely developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
There are over 450 different regional versions of the bunad. Each region and municipality has their own colours and embroidered patterns with local makers in the community making them by hand.. Often, they will be inherited from a family member.
On Constitution Day this year, Crown Prince Haakon wore a bunad, along with Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and Princess Sverre when they were at Skaugum. The Norwegian Crown Prince does not wear his as frequently but both Mette-Marit and Ingrid Alexandra have worn theirs multiple times.
Approximately 75% of women in Norway own a bunad and 20% of men do.
Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra have all received multiple bunas as gifts.
