On June 17, 2022, in a private ceremony at the Royal Palace in Oslo, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark presented the Order of the Elephant to Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway. The Crown Prince presented the Order on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on the occasion of Princess Ingrid Alexandra’s 18th birthday.

Originating in the 15th century, the Order of the Elephant is the oldest and noblest Danish Order of Knights traditionally presented to royalty and Heads of State; moreover, the Order of the Elephant is only “on loan” to the recipient. Once an Elephant Knight passes away the Order must be returned to the Chapter of the Order; thus most of the Elephants have been in use several times.

The concrete Elephant has undergone a minor restoration for the occasion, where it has, among other things, been affixed to the Queen’s monogram, as an Elephant always wears the sitting monarch’s monogram when awarded.

Photos courtesy of the Danish royal court.