Ingrid Alexandra lights the flame

Her grandfather did the actual honours and opened the Youth Olympic Games being held in Lillehammer, but Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway handled the big moment of the inaugural ceremony. The future queen lit the flame which traditionally marks the start of every Olympics event and took another step on her royal path.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway lights the Olympic Cauldron at the Youth Games in Lillehammer on February 12th 2016

(photo kongehuset.no)

The princess, who turned twelve in January, had a starring role in the opening ceremony, The flame was brought into the stadium by a six times Olympics champion, Marit Bjorgen, then Ingrid emerged from a tent, waved to the crowd and marched through snow to begin the magic moment that marks the high point of every Olympic event. She then climbed a set of stairs and pausing briefly to let the fire flicker in the dark night sky before lighting the cauldron that will burn throughout the games and remind everyone that Norway is now hosting an Olympic event.

The lighting of the Olympic Cauldron #Lillehammer2016 #iLoveYOG https://t.co/0W6DTjSay1

— Youth Olympic Games (@youtholympics) February 12, 2016

Over 13,000 spectators watched as the princess lit the flame, a job carried out by her father, Crown Prince Haakon Magnus over twenty years ago when he ignited the cauldron that blazed throughout the 1994 Winter Olympics which were also held at Lillehammer. Last night, he got to play proud dad as he watched his eldest child follow in the Norwegian Royal Family's Olympic tradition - Ingrid's grandfather, King Harald V, and great grandfather, King Olav V, were both Olympians.  Haakon had earlier had his own role in getting the games underway when he delivered the first curling stone it that competition which started just hours before the official opening ceremony.

The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway in Lillehammer on the day the Youth Olympic Games got under way

And it was King Harald who officially opened the Games - this monarch has had a marvellous month following his Silver Jubilee in January and he looked almost overcome with emotion as his family gathered round him to hear him declare the event underway. 

The moment King Harald V officially opened #Lillehammer2016 #iLoveYOG https://t.co/CpiXexDees

— Youth Olympic Games (@youtholympics) February 12, 2016

The Youth Games will run from February 12th until February 22nd with 1,100 competitors aged between 15 and 18 taking part. There are 70 events to run over the next ten days which marks the fourth time the Youth Games have taken place. And this time, they were given a right royal start with a future queen enjoying a special moment in sporting history.