A future queen of Norway spent Sunday morning walking through Surry Hills beside schoolchildren, families and community groups, as Princess Ingrid Alexandra made her first official public appearance in Australia since moving to Sydney for university last year.
The 22-year-old royal joined celebrations on 17 May for Norway’s Constitution Day at Harmony Park, where hundreds of people gathered wearing traditional bunads, waving Norwegian flags and sharing cakes and traditional food during the community celebration. The event marked the princess’ first national day celebration away from Oslo, where members of the Norwegian royal family usually greet crowds from the Royal Palace balcony.
A Sydney Suburb Becomes the Centre of Norway’s National Day
The celebration drew members of Sydney’s Norwegian community, many arriving early to take part in a parade through Surry Hills before speeches from organisers and diplomats. NSW Governor Margaret Beazley attended the gathering alongside Princess Ingrid Alexandra, while Norway’s ambassador read a message from King Harald V and Queen Sonja recognising the overseas celebration.
Children waited patiently to greet the princess after the parade, with families lining pathways through Harmony Park for photos and short conversations. One young girl wearing a bunad that had been passed through several generations of her family spoke with Ingrid Alexandra about school and sport during the event. Community members described the day as a chance to celebrate Norwegian identity far from home rather than focusing on royal ceremony.
The princess moved through crowds with little separation from attendees, stopping to shake hands and speak with families throughout the morning. Photos and social media clips from the event later drew attention online in both Norway and Australia following the celebration.
Life at the University of Sydney
Princess Ingrid Alexandra has been studying politics and international relations at the University of Sydney since 2025 after relocating from Norway for her degree. She has been living at St Andrew’s College near the university’s Camperdown campus.
Since arriving in Australia, the princess has largely remained out of public view. Her appearance in Surry Hills drew attention because she has rarely been seen publicly in Sydney since arriving for her studies. Several attendees said Sydney appeared to offer the princess a more private student experience than Norway, where media attention surrounding the royal family remains strong.
The princess is the eldest child of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit and is second in line to Norway’s throne after her father. Her move to Australia attracted international media attention because few European heirs study overseas while continuing royal duties.
Families and Traditions Filled Harmony Park
The event combined cultural celebrations with the princess’ public appearance. Long tables filled with waffles, cakes and coffee sat beside community stalls, while children carried Norwegian flags through the park. Older members of the community wore embroidered bunads representing different parts of Norway, with some garments passed down through families over decades.
Social media footage shared by attendees showed crowds surrounding the princess after the formal parade ended, with parents lifting children for photos and short greetings. The event included music, cultural activities and community participation alongside formal proceedings.
Several people attending the gathering told Australian media the celebration was centred on togetherness and maintaining cultural ties while living abroad. Some attendees declined to discuss public scrutiny surrounding the Norwegian royal family and instead focused on the community celebration.
The Sydney appearance differed from larger formal royal events commonly held in Europe. Instead of palace guards and formal receptions, the Sydney celebration placed the future queen among university students, young families and migrants gathered in a suburban park.
Published 20-May-2026
