Looking serenely at the camera, with her hands gently resting in her lap and her bare feet just touching the floor, Princess Ingrid of Norway has posed for a special portrait to celebrate her 10th birthday.With every passing year, Ingrid bears a stronger resemblance to her mother, Crown Princess Mette Marit, and never more so than in this photograph.
PHOTO TO GO TO GALLERY
The contemplative image comes in contrast to the light-hearted picture released for Ingrid's ninth birthday, in which she was seen walking hand-in-hand with her dad Crown Prince Haakon and her grandfather King Harald — the two men who share her destiny as head of the Norwegian monarchy.To complement the photograph, the royal palace also released images of both King Harald and his late father King Olav when they were ten years old.
King Olav and Prince Harald when they were younger
Harald is pictured surrounded by his friends in an image taken in 1947. With a cap on his head and a cheeky smile on his face, the youngster is in high spirits as he poses with his peers.
His father, who was king of Norway from 1957 until his death in January 1991, is seen looking directly at the camera, with a hint of a wry smile. Olav left quite a legacy for his descendants; he was a hugely popular monarch, who was given the nickname Follkekongen — The People's King.
Princess Ingrid poses for photos to celebrate her 10th birthday
The third picture shows the royal kneeling in daisy-covered grass, thoughtfully gathering the delicate flowers together.
In total, three images have been released of Ingrid to celebrate her special day. Perhaps the most striking photograph shows the young princess carrying a huge bunch of gold balloons, and gazing back over her shoulder.
The Princess celebrated her birthday with friends and family in Skaugum
Princess Ingrid celebrated her birthday with a children's party for family and friends at Skaugum, the official residence of her parents Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Her little brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, eight, would have been among the excited invitees.