Princess appears at World Cup in US days after mother’s transplant surgery

Princess Ingrid Alexandra has appeared in public for the first time since her mother’s life-saving transplant surgery, attending the World Cup in the US.

The royal, 22, was joined by her younger brother as they carried out their first joint engagement outside of Norway.

Ingrid Alexandra was not originally due to join Prince Sverre Magnus, 20, for the game, but her father Crown Prince Haakon had to cancel his attendance following his wife’s transplant.

The crown prince, who will be the next king of Norway, has stepped back from public-facing duties for the time being to care for Crown Princess Mette-Marit.

The 52-year-old had a lung transplant last week, eight years after being diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis − a chronic condition that causes scarring on the lungs and makes breathing difficult.

Confirmation of Mette-Marit’s transplant came from the Royal House on Wednesday, just 12 days after she had been put on the waiting list.

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Her doctors described the surgery as “successful”, however the crown princess will remain in Oslo’s National Hospital for several weeks “to adjust medications, handle any complications and engage in rehabilitation”.

Queen Sonja was asked about her daughter-in-law’s operation at the weekend and told the media: “It’s simply fantastic. It’s fantastic that it went so well”.

The siblings’ attendance at the World Cup is another indication of the surgery’s success.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra wore a red blazer with a white shirt underneath while her brother had a navy suit − both mirroring Norway’s flag. They each wore Team Norway scarves.

They were seen cheering enthusiastically as Norway were victorious over Senegal at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Monday (Tuesday morning in Australia).

Tomorrow, the princess and prince will visit TINE’s Football School at SC Gjøa, a Norwegian youth football club in Brooklyn.

On May 17, nine.com.au was there when the princess carried out her first public appearance in Australia, attending Norway’s National Day celebrations in Sydney. It was the princess’ first official engagement outside of Norway.

Until now, Prince Sverre Magnus has not performed any royal role outside of his homeland.

Ingrid Alexandra’s time in Australia was unexpectedly cut short when she left Sydney to return to Oslo on June 2  to be with her mother. She has since transferred from Sydney University to the University of Oslo where she will continue her studies on exchange.

In the coming weeks and months, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus will increase their public roles.

Norway’s monarchy has found itself lacking in senior royals to perform constitutional duties as it deals with several unprecedented crises.

In November, the country’s parliament will vote on a proposed change to the constitution that will allow Princess Ingrid Alexandra to act as regent.

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The move would bring Norway’s Royal House in line with other royal families across Europe, including in Britain and Denmark, who have back-up royals to stand in for the monarch when needed, such as when they are ill or travelling abroad.

Under Norway’s current system the only designated regent for the 89-year-old King Harald V is his son and heir, Crown Prince Haakon.

“It seems realities have caught up with them,” Norwegian historian and author Trond Norén Isaksen told nine.com.au last week.

Ingrid Alexandra’s grandfather King Harald V, 89, has been reluctant to push the young princess into her public role, preferring to give her the time to focus on her studies and to enjoy her youth before the burden of responsibility.

But recent circumstances have forced a re-think within the Royal House.

“The royal family have long insisted that the children must be given time and space to be young, study and find their way, and when the king has been asked whether his granddaughter might take on more duties he has usually rejected it outright,” Isaksen said.

“When he was asked the question again last week, he said ‘We have not come that far yet’ which clearly means that they are now considering it rather than ruling it out.”

Isaksen added: “The practical reasons are that the king is old and often ill, while the crown prince travels a lot.

“If parliament votes in favour of the amendment, as it seems it will, it will make things easier for the crown prince as his daughter can then step in for him and her grandfather as regent.

“Furthermore, it will make it possible for her to start building experience for her future role as head of state.”

Last week, the eldest brother of Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus was jailed for four years after he was convicted of rape and assault.

Marius Borg Høiby, who is Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s son from a previous relationship before she married into the royal family, has appealed the verdict.

Though he’s never held a royal title or carried out official duties, Høiby was raised alongside the crown prince’s two children but stepped back from public life in 2017 after struggling to find a role for himself.