Norway’s Princess Astrid has died aged 94, two days after attending the funeral of her younger brother King Harald V, the Norwegian Royal House said on Friday. Her death came exactly two weeks after Harald died at Rikshospitalet in Oslo on 28 August.
Princess Astrid, King Harald’s elder sister and a member of the Norwegian royal family for more than nine decades, died on 11 September.
“His Majesty the King has received with great sorrow the news that Princess Astrid has passed away,” the Royal House said.
King Haakon ordered the flag at the Royal Palace in Oslo to fly at half-mast on Friday. The flag will also fly at half-mast on the day of Astrid’s funeral. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said the state will cover the cost of the funeral.
Astrid had attended King Harald’s funeral at Oslo Cathedral on Wednesday. She entered the cathedral in a wheelchair before the service. A wreath from her carried a message thanking her brother for their life together.
NRK reported that Astrid had also spent time beside Harald’s coffin at the Palace Chapel before the funeral. She later watched mourners gathering among flowers outside the Royal Palace.
King Haakon paid tribute to his aunt in a statement issued by the Royal House. He recalled how Astrid assumed a central public role after the death of Crown Princess Märtha in 1954.
“At just 22, she had to step into the role of first lady when my grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha, died,” he said.
Astrid held that position for 14 years. She represented Norway at home and abroad, often alongside her father, King Olav V. The role passed to Sonja Haraldsen when she married Crown Prince Harald in 1968.
Norwegian newspaper VG reported that Astrid had faced health problems during her final year. Pneumonia led to hospital treatment in March. She returned to hospital with heart failure in May and received a temporary pacemaker.
Astrid was born in 1932, the middle child of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha. Her elder sister, Princess Ragnhild, died in 2012.
Astrid married businessman and competitive sailor Johan Martin Ferner in 1961. They had five children. Ferner died in 2015.
Her children, Cathrine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth and Carl-Christian Ferner, thanked their mother in a family statement released through the Royal House.
“Thank you for being the best mother we could have had,” they said, recalling her support for her family and her concern for people who needed care.
Astrid continued to represent the monarchy into her 90s and held 12 patronages. Speaking to NRK about why she continued working, she said being of use to others gave her a sense of purpose.
King Haakon said Astrid had also served as a source of support for Harald and other members of the family.
“We learned a lot from her, and she was not afraid to speak up,” he said. “Her passing is a great loss to us. We will miss her.”
Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf said he and Queen Silvia had spoken with Astrid during Harald’s funeral events only days before her death.
“We remember Princess Astrid with warmth and send our condolences to the princess’s children and their families, as well as to the entire Norwegian royal family,” he said.
HT