Happy Constitution Day!
The Royal Family marked Constitution Day in the traditional manner today, greeting the children’s parade in Oslo from the Palace balcony. In Sydney, the celebrations began at 04.00 Norwegian time.
17 May 2026
Celebrations in Sydney
Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra began the celebrations before most of us: at 04.00 Norwegian time, the Princess arrived at the 17 May celebrations in Sydney, Australia. The programme included a Constitution Day parade, waffles and hot dogs, organised by the Norwegian-Australian Chamber of Commerce, the Seamen’s Church and ANSA.
But first, Princess Ingrid Alexandra sent a greeting home to Norway.
Greetings from Sydney
Dear everyone,
Today, I am feeling a little extra homesick.
It is so lovely that we have a day when everyone can dress up a little extra, take part in parades, and celebrate our Constitution.
I will be celebrating 17 May here in Sydney, and I hope everyone has a wonderful day, whether they are in Norway or abroad.
Happy birthday, Norway!
- Princess Ingrid Alexandra
The Children’s Parade in Oslo
At half past ten this morning, the children’s parade in Oslo streamed into Palace Square. Leading the parade was the Armed Forces Staff Band, followed by the 17 May Committee and representatives of Oslo’s political and administrative leadership. Then came 100,000 schoolchildren.
Schools celebrating anniversaries always take pride of place in the parade. This year, three schools marking their 100th anniversary led the procession: Bygdøy School had the honour of going first, ahead of Ullevål School and Rudolf Steiner School in Oslo.
A total of 120 schools are taking part in the parade in Oslo this year, and it was approaching 13.30 before everyone had passed the Palace balcony.
The Children’s Parade in Asker
The Crown Prince’s family began the celebrations outside Skaugum, where The Crown Prince, The Crown Princess and Prince Sverre Magnus welcomed the Children’s parade in Asker from 08.00 onwards. They then travelled into the capital to the Royal Palace, as the Children’s parade was soon making its way towards Palace Square.
The History
It was King Haakon VII and Queen Maud who established the custom of greeting the Children’s parade in Oslo from the Palace balcony. The tradition was introduced in 1906 and has been maintained ever since. The only exceptions were in 1910, when Queen Maud’s father – King Edward of England – was buried, during the war years of 1940–1944, and throughout the coronavirus pandemic in 2020–2021.
The celebration of 17 May is, of course, older than this, and as early as 1870 the children’s parade made its way to the Royal Palace for the first time – though without a royal family appearing on the balcony. King Oscar I was the first monarch to take part in the celebrations, when he greeted the flag procession from the royal residence Paleet in 1845. King Carl Johan, on the other hand, prohibited the celebrating of Norway’s constitution ...
