Australians rejoiced when the Norwegian Palace confirmed Princess Ingrid Alexandra would head Down Under to commence a three-year undergraduate degree.
She arrived in July 2025 to settle in ahead of beginning her three-year degree in Social Sciences at the University of Sydney.
“Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra will begin her studies at the University of Sydney in August, enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts program,” a statement read. “She has chosen a three-year degree with a focus on international relations and political economy,” it continued.
“The Princess will be studying full-time and residing in a student residence on campus. Her Royal Highness looks forward to dedicating herself to her studies in the years to come.”
Upon arriving in Sydney, Princess Ingrid shared on Instagram: “I’m looking forward to starting my studies at the University of Sydney. It will be exciting to become a student, and I’m looking forward to gaining new perspectives on both European and international politics. I’m sure that I will learn a lot.”
Princess Ingrid returned to Norway in June 2026, temporarily putting her studies in Sydney on hold, as her mother’s health declined.
“It has to do with the family situation. She wants to be with her mother,” Ingrid’s father, the then-Crown Prince Haakon, said.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit was diagnosed with chronic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition where scarring occurs in the lungs. Her health has deteriorated quickly.
She has, however, transferred to University of Oslo for a semester: “In order to be closer to her family, Princess Ingrid Alexandra has returned to Norway and will spend the autumn semester of 2026 as an exchange student at the University of Oslo as part of her studies at the University of Sydney.”
Princess Ingrid plans to “complete her studies in Australia.” However, with the passing of her grandfather, her future at the University of Sydney remains unclear.
The heiress did spend almost a full year in Australia, during which her nose is often in a book while studying for exams, often under a particular tree due to Aussie “superstition.”
“If you haven’t started reading before the jacaranda trees are in full bloom, it means trouble in your exams,” she confessed.
During the Christmas holidays, the Norwegian princess took a break from her studies to visit some of our native animals at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo.
The royal interviewed one of the zookeepers there, who explained the ethos and aim of Taronga Zoo.
Watch the reel here and below.
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