King Haakon Hosts First Storting Dinner as Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra Debuts Amethyst Tiara
King Haakon welcomed members of Parliament to the Royal Palace in Oslo for his first Storting dinner as monarch, an evening marked by royal tradition, a debate over formal dress codes, and a historic debut. The stortingsmiddag was the 108th in the line after it was introduced as a fixed tradition, and it marked the first festive event after court mourning for the late King Harald ended on October 9. Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra made her debut in her new role alongside her father and grandmother, Queen Sonja, while Queen Mette-Marit was absent due to ongoing rehabilitation following a June lungetransplantation.
Dress Code Controversy Erupts Over Invitations and Parliamentary Handbooks
The palace’s communication chief, Guri Varpe, confirmed in an email to VG that the designated dress code was festantrekk, which requires men to wear white-tie and women to wear floor-length evening gowns or national bunads. However, the Storting’s own handbook for elected officials advises members that they may wear “the finest you have,” whether that includes white-tie, a smoking jacket, a dark suit, or a knee-length dress.
Politicians offered mixed reactions to the ensuing debate. Trond Giske (Ap) explained via text message that his bunad shirt ripped just before departure and he does not own white-tie or a smoking jacket, leading him to wear his wedding suit instead. Conversely, royal commentator Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen argued that wearing lesser attire shows a lack of respect for the King and threatens to erode the traditions that sustain the monarchy.
Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra Wears Inherited Amethyst Diadem
The antique diamond and amethyst necklace can be transformed into a tiara, and according to Isaksen’s research into the history of royal jewels, the piece serves as a replacement for a tiara originally belonging to Queen Sofie of Sweden and Norway that was stolen during a burglary at the jeweler Garrard in London. The Crown Princess also wore matching silver wedding earrings originally given by then Crown Prince Olav to Crown Princess Märtha in 1954, along with a single white glove on her left hand to allow for polite handshakes without removing head or hand coverings, as observed by TV 2.
King Haakon Reflects on Succession and Family in Royal Speech
Addressing the elected representatives in the Great Dining Hall, King Haakon opened his speech by acknowledging the transition of the crown following his father’s passing. So it’s me standing here, not my father.
(So it is I who stand here, and not my father
), the King stated, expressing his deep personal miss and thanking the public and politicians for their collective support during a national period of mourning, NRK reported. Storting Masud Gharahkhani also addressed the assembly, offering a speech that included humorous anecdotes about the King’s past interests before dinner was served from game shot by King Harald’s hunting team in Sikkilsdalen.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Royal Storting Dinner
What does the dress code festantrekk actually require at the Royal Palace?
The Royal Palace defines festantrekk as equivalent to galla, meaning men wear white-tie (snippkjole) and women wear floor-length formal evening gowns or traditional national bunads. This strict interpretation contrasts with Parliament’s own handbook, which allows lawmakers to wear dark suits or knee-length dresses.
Why was Queen Mette-Marit absent from the historic banquet?
Queen Mette-Marit was unable to attend the Storting dinner because she remained in rehabilitation following a lungetransplantation procedure performed in June. Her absence led Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra to step in as hostess alongside King Haakon.
What is the history behind the amethyst tiadem worn by the Crown Princess?
Royal experts note that the tiara was acquired after a historic 1995 robbery at the Garrard jewelry firm in London replaced an earlier stolen piece belonging to Queen Sofie.
How long has the tradition of the Storting dinner existed in Norway?
The royal Storting dinner is a 120-year-old tradition established by King Haakon VII in 1906, shortly after the dissolution of the union with Sweden.