Today, Her Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway celebrates her 10th birthday. If she – eventually – decides to become queen, she will be first female reigning monarch in Norway in 600 years.
She will become the first Norwegian-born reigning queen of Norway. Her only predecessor as female head of state was Queen Margaret I of Denmark. Through her marriage to Håkon VI Magnusson, she was non-reigning queen of Norway from 1363 to 1380, and reigning Queen from 1388 to 1412.
In addition to Margaret I, two other queens have been regencies. One was Danish-born Ingeborg Eriksdatter (1244-1287), who ruled for seven years, after her husband Magnus Lagabøte died in 1280. The other was named Ingeborg Håkonsdatter (1301-1361) which we know very little about. However, it is only Margaret I who has earned a place in the official line of succession.
Female Regents Across Europe
In addition to Norway, many European royal families are experiencing future female monarchs. Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange (10) and Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant (12) are both second in line to the Dutch and Belgian throne. Crown Princess Victoria and her daughter Estelle (2) will eventually take over the Swedish throne. In Spain, Infanta Leonor of Spain (8) will presumably take over from her father, Crown Prince Felipe.
In future Europe female monarchs will be in majority, while the two countries that currently have a female regent (Britain and Denmark) will have kings.
10th Birthday
Princess Ingrid Alexandra has become an independent and popular ten-year old girl. The Royal Palace informs that she will celebrate her first decade at home with family and friends. Today, she woke up with her closest family bringing her cake and gifts.
By the age of ten, she is already an experienced princess. Every year she and her family are waving from the palace balcony on the national day, and she was a bridesmaid when her Godmother, Swedish Crown Princess Victoria, got married in 2010.
The official photos of Ingrid Alexandra are taken by renowned photographer Sølve Sundsbø.
Text by: Anette Broteng Christiansen, ThorNews
Source: The Royal House of Norway, Wikipedia
Photos by Sølve Sundsbø, the Royal Court
thornews.com 
Do Norwegians consider the Danish monarchs to have been Norwegian kings of Norway, or is that viewed as a foreign monarch…an occupation if you will?
A very good question.
It probably depends on who you ask.
Thor
How do you feel about it, Thor?
400 years under Danish rule was not the best period in Norwegian history, and I personally look at the Danish-Norwegian monarchs as representatives of the Danish occupation force.
Well them one could argue that this would be Norway’s first female monarch if it indeed takes place! Interesting.
That’s what I assumed the response would be. But so much of the early history overlaps that I wasn’t sure. Thanks.
Isn’t the Norwegian royal family descended from Danish monarchs originally?
Yes, D.D – you are right. In 1905, when the union with Sweden ended, Norway needed a king. Through a referendum, Danish Prince Carl became King Haakon of Norway. His wife, Queen Maud, was of British descent and Queen Victoria’s grand daughter.
Anette