Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway looked every inch the proud parents as they took their eldest child Princess Ingrid to her first day of school. The ten-year-old royal, who will one day be queen, started at the Oslo International School in Bekkestua on Tuesday morning. Ingrid was escorted by her parents, her younger brother Prince Sverre Magnus and her grandmother on her mum's side Marit Tjessem. The moment will have struck a chord with the royal family as it was Ingrid's first day at her new private school, as well as Mette-Marit's 41st birthday.
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit drop their daughter Ingrid off to school
Matching her mum with her fair hair swept back into a plait, Ingrid dressed smartly in a navy jumper and white trousers. Mette-Marit held onto her children's hands as they arrived at the school, with Haakon towing behind carrying their school backpacks. The royal family were immediately greeted in English by the school's principal Janecke Aarnæs who gave a slightly nervous-looking Ingrid a handshake. The young princess, who is starting fifth grade, will be expected to communicate in English as most lessons are conducted in the foreign language. It was reported that Haakon and Mette-Marit wanted their daughter – who is second-in-line to the throne – to be immersed in English and attend a school with children from many different countries, to better prepare her for her royal role.
Princess Ingrid will be expected to speak in English for her classes at the international school
Ingrid's first day involved an induction where students were told about what was expected of them at the school, followed by the chance to meet their classmates. "When she goes in the door here, she'll be a completely ordinary pupil, just like all the others," head teacher Janecke told Norwegian Broadcasting. The normal school day runs from 8:50am past 3pm, with Ingrid taking part in various lessons including mathematics, reading, writing, science, history, geography, technology and culture. She will also have three classes in Norwegian a week. Ingrid had previously attended a public school for four years – the Jansløkka elementary school in Asker close to the family's home, where Prince Sverre and Mette-Marit's first child from a previous relationship Marius Borg Høiby also went. Sverre, eight, has also left and started at a new private institution, the Oslo Montessori school in Skådalen, where he is in fourth grade.