Since 1924, the royals have received a car as a gift when they come of age. But that tradition is now over, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra gets a car-free birthday.
– Due to the royal house’s gift rules, KNA will not give a car to Princess Ingrid Alexandra when she turns 18 on Friday, communications manager Thomas A. Groot in the traditional organization Royal Norwegian Automobile Club (KNA) informs NTB.
Thus, a tradition that was almost 100 years old is over.
In 1924, KNA gave a car as a gift to the then Prince Olav.
Since then, they have followed up by giving:
* A Peugeot 203 for Prince Harald on his 18th birthday in 1955
* A Peugeot 205 XS for Princess Märtha Louise in 1989
* And a Peugeot 205 XT for Crown Prince Haakon when he turned 18 in 1991
–Critical author
In a column in VG last year, author Ulrik Eriksen wrote that the royal family had to say no to a car gift when Ingrid Alexandra turns 18. He justified this, among other things, with the fact that car use is harmful to both the climate and urban development.
The castle responded by pointing out that their gift regulations from 2015 exclude gifts from commercial players.
Eriksen nevertheless doubted whether this would preclude a car gift, since KNA is not a commercial, but an interest organization.
–Now, however, KNA sweeps all doubt off the field and confirms that no car will be given to Princess Ingrid Alexandra.
– On her birthday, however, the princess will be made a lifelong KNA member in line with her father and grandfather, says Groot in KNA to NTB.
The castle also makes it clear that in any case it would not be relevant to accept such a gift.
– His Majesty the King gave public expression in the 90s that in the future it is not relevant for members of the royal family to receive a car as a gift. I also refer to the Royal Court’s gift policy from 2015. In any case, it is not relevant to accept such a gift, the Palace informs NTB.
–Solid collection
Although the princess does not receive her own car as a gift, she probably has access to more cars through the family. The castle has an impressive collection that includes several historical masterpieces.
– The roadmaster from 1939 is perhaps the most famous of the cars. This is the car that brought King Haakon, Crown Princess Märtha and the children from Honnørbryggen to the Palace on June 7, 1945. It was a gift to Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha from General Motors during the trip to the USA in 1939, the royal house writes in a article from 2016 about several of the cars.
The mentioned roadmaster is often called the “liberation car” and was used when the royal couple whizzed around the streets of Oslo during the May 17 celebrations in the corona year 2020.
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess have also owned a Tesla privately.
–Full gift list
Even if there is no car, the princess will still receive a second series of gifts for her 18th birthday. On Friday morning, she receives several personalities from public Norway at the Palace, and many of them bring surprises to her.
Among others, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Labor Party), Minister of Finance Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp), Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen, Bishop Ingeborg Midttømme and Oslo Mayor Marianne Borgen will stop by to congratulate the Crown Princess.
When the princess confirmed herself, she received a bunad from East Telemark as a gift from the royal couple. The government gave her a nature reserve named after her – Prinsesseåsen nature reserve on Bygdøy, and the Storting gave her hiking equipment.
In addition, the princess received avalanche and summit hiking courses from the police, surfing courses from the county governors, hiking cups from the Sami Parliament and nature experiences from Oslo municipality. She also received Norway’s laws, three books with LO’s history, several Bible editions and a couple of jewelery.
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