Why a future Queen will be moving to Australia

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is heading to Australia later this year. The Norwegian Royal House announced on May 26 that Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon's 21-year-old daughter will be continuing her education Down Under at the University of Sydney, where she will reside on campus. 

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"Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra will begin her studies at the University of Sydney in August, enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts program," the Royal House shared. "She has chosen a three-year degree with a focus on international relations and political economy."

"The Princess will be studying full-time and reside in a student residence on campus," the Royal House added. "Her Royal Highness looks forward to dedicating herself to her studies in the years to come."

The Princess will no doubt be able to take advantage of surfing while in Australia. The royal is said to enjoy sports and outdoor life, and loves water sports. In 2020, she won a national junior surfing championship in Jaeren. Her father has said in the past that if he were not the Crown Prince, he would have liked to have been "a pro surfer on the World Tour."

The Princess graduated from high school, Elvebakken High School, back in June of 2023. That fall, Alexandra started working as a school assistant and environmental worker at Uranienborg School. She began her military service in January of 2024. The Princess was originally set to serve 12 months of initial service at the Engineer Battalion in Brigade Nord, but it was later extended to 15 months, which she completed this spring.

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At Skjold army camp last September, the Princess told a press pool that she had been "challenged many times since" arriving. She shared (translated to English), "I think the most important thing I have learned is that you can do much more than you think, and you are much stronger together. Whether it's in a team or in a platoon or company, you get a lot more done when you're not alone."

She also admitted that at Skjold, "I enjoy myself very much. It's a varied everyday life, and we do a lot of exciting things. And then I have to brag about my company. They are incredibly good at motivating each other and doing well every day. Without them I would not have enjoyed myself as much here."

The Princess is Crown Prince Haakon's first child with Mette-Marit. They also share son Prince Sverre Magnus. The Crown Princess has another son, Marius Borg Høiby, from a previous relationship. Princess Ingrid Alexandra is second in line to the Norwegian throne, after her father.