First in the stands, then on the field themselves: For Princess Ingrid Alexandra (22) and her brother Prince Sverre Magnus (20), it didn't stop at just watching in New York. One day after they were able to cheer on the Norwegian team during their World Cup victory over Senegal in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the siblings laced up their shoes themselves at a soccer school in Brooklyn - wearing national team jerseys and in high spirits.
On Tuesday, Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus visited the TINE Soccer School of Gjøa Youth Soccer at the Parade Ground Soccer Fields in Brooklyn, as reported by the Norwegian newspaper "VG".
Praise for the Young Players
After a tour of the facility, the two did several drills with the young participants, dribbled the soccer ball across the field, posed with the children, and even sat down next to them for the famous Norwegian rowing choreography.
Sverre Magnus was impressed by the skills of the young players, and Ingrid Alexandra praised the school's concept. The princess also expressed pride in the Norwegian team's supporters. "We have an incredible fan culture in Norway that we are proud of. The atmosphere yesterday was very special", she told the newspaper. Norway has won both group matches so far, meaning the team has already secured a spot in the round of sixteen.
On Friday, the team led by superstar Erling Haaland (25) faces the final group match against France. However, at least Ingrid Alexandra won't be able to follow it live at the stadium: While Sverre Magnus's further plans remain open, his sister is traveling back to Norway to the island of Hudøy, where she will visit a traditional summer camp of the city of Oslo on Thursday.
Difficult Weeks for the Norwegian Royals
For Ingrid Alexandra and Sverre Magnus, the days in the USA are their first official engagements since their mother Mette-Marit's (52) lung transplant. "The Crown Princess is pleased that the Princess and the Prince are able to represent the Royal House on this major occasion", the court announced before the trip. In early June, Ingrid Alexandra had returned from Australia, where she studies, to be by her mother's side. Crown Prince Haakon (52) had previously repeatedly canceled appointments to be able to be at his wife's side.
The transplant last week is said to have been successful, and Mette-Marit is currently recovering in an Oslo hospital. She has been suffering from an incurable pulmonary fibrosis since 2018, in which scars form in the lung tissue and make breathing difficult. In recent months, her condition deteriorated significantly and she had to appear with an oxygen device.
The family is additionally burdened by the criminal trial against Mette-Marit's eldest son Marius Borg Høiby (29). He was found guilty in mid-June of, among other charges, assault and was sentenced to four years in prison. He has filed an appeal against the verdict.
