On the evening of Thursday, June 16, 2022, the Norwegian government hosted a gala dinner in celebration of Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway’s official day at the Deichman Hovedbibliotek Bjørvika in Oslo. The gala dinner was due to be held on January 21, 2022, but due to the pandemic, the event was canceled.

According to a press release, over 200 guests attended this evening’s celebrations including members of the Norwegian government and Supreme Court as well as “…Young representatives of sports, cultural life, community life, politics and organizational life from all over the country were invited to the gala dinner.”

Naturally, members of the Norwegian royal family were in attendance including Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, His Highness Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway, Her Highness Princess Martha Louise of Norway accompanied by her fiancé, Shaman Durek, Her Highness Princess Astrid of Norway, and though not an official royal, Mr. Marius Borg Høiby (step-brother of Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus).

During this evening’s celebrations, Princess Ingrid Alexandra — who will become Norway’s first female monarch when she ascends to the throne — gave a wonderful speech. Here is what she had to say:

“President of the Storting
Prime Minister
Justitiarius
Dear all,

I would like to start by saying thank you for this wonderful celebration. Being received by the Torshov Corps and the girls’ choir was so nice, and you were incredibly good. It was really magical to listen to Delara and Ina Svenningdal downstairs.

Thank you to everyone who has helped make this evening an experience both for me and everyone who is here today. I would also like to thank all the guests who have traveled from all over the country. The experience becomes even more valuable when I have so many to share it with.

I’m very grateful to have us here at Deichman tonight. Here people come in day in and day out to borrow books, work with school, and be social. I myself have been here several times and it has become such a nice place.

I would very much like to say thank you for last. Both to you Prime Minister, to the President of the Storting and to the Attorney General. You received me so well when I visited the three powers in connection with my day of authority. It was an educational day, and I got to meet many nice and nice people.

The visits were really a reminder of how lucky we are here in Norway. A reminder of our democracy and the secure governance system we have. What we Norwegians have built up over a long period of time, and which we continue to develop, and protect, every day.

I feel very lucky to have grown up in a country where we trust each other, and where we together try to find good solutions. Solutions that allow as many people as possible to have the best possible. This is a principle that it is important that we in Norway uphold.

Trust is not created by individuals, politicians or institutions alone. It is created by all of us – together. I am glad to share that with all of you who are here today, and all who live in our country.

Again, I want to say thank you so much for the gift. I wish everyone a continued good evening. At least I’m looking forward to it.

Thank you very much.”

Please click here and here to watch video clips from this evening’s gala dinner.