Norway's Princess Astrid dies at 94, two days after brother King Harald's funeral

Norways Princess Astrid the elder sister of late King Harald V died on Friday at the age of 94 just two days after attending her brothers funeral in OsloThe Norwegian Royal Court announced her death on Friday saying Princess Astrid had died earlier in the day King Haakon VIII her nephew expressed deep sorrow over her passing and remembered her for a lifetime of warm and dutiful service to the Norwegian Royal HouseHer death comes at a deeply difficult time for Norways royal family King Harald died on August 28 aged 89 after more than three decades on the throne and was laid to rest in a state funeral in Oslo on WednesdayPrincess Astrid attended the funeral service for her younger brother at Oslo Cathedral on September 9 She was the last surviving child of King Olav V and Crown Princess Martha and had remained an important figure in the royal household throughout her lifeNorwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store paid tribute to Princess Astrid describing her as a dedicated and engaged representative of the Royal House until the end of her lifeldquoOn behalf of the government I would like to thank Princess Astrid for her efforts for Norway throughout a long liferdquo Stoslashre said according to the Norwegian governments statementPrincess Astrid stepped into public life after mothers deathPrincess Astrid was born on February 12 1932 Following the death of her mother Crown Princess Martha in 1954 she stepped into a prominent public role at the age of 22 and served as the Royal Houses leading female representative for 14 years until Crown Princess Sonja took over the role in 1968Over the years she accompanied King Haakon VII and later King Olav on official trips and state visits and continued to represent the Royal House on several occasions in later lifeShe was also a loyal supporter of her brother King Harald and remained involved in public duties well into her 90sKing Haakon VIII said Princess Astrid had been particularly concerned with care and inclusion for vulnerable people in society He described her as a loyal and engaged member of the Royal House with a warm personality and a contagious sense of humourldquoHer passing is a great loss to us We will miss herrdquo Haakon said in his tributePrincess Astrid married Johan Martin Ferner in 1961 The couple had five children mdash three daughters and two sons mdash as well as grandchildren and greatgrandchildrenTributes pour in for Princess AstridForeign dignitaries also expressed condolences following her death Latvias President Edgars Rinkvics said he was ldquodeeply saddenedrdquo by her passing and paid tribute to her long service to NorwayVi har med stor sorg mottatt budskapet om at Prinsesse Astrid fru Ferner har garingtt bort Et hoslashyt elsket medlem av kongefamilien har forlatt oss Norge har mistet en minneverdig og hoslashyt ansett prinsesse Varingr medfoslashlelse garingr til kongehuset og den naeligrmeste familien pictwittercom8M7CuDOTKnmdash Masud Gharahkhani MasudGh September 11 2026Norwegian Parliament President Masud Gharahkhani described Astrid as a ldquohighly belovedrdquo member of the Royal Family and said Norway had lost a ldquomemorable and highly esteemed princessrdquoThe British Embassy in Oslo also expressed its condolences to the Norwegian Royal Family and people of NorwayThe Norwegian Royal Court has ordered flags to be flown at halfmast from the Palace balcony on Friday and on the day of Princess Astrids funeral The Norwegian government has also ordered flags at all state institutions to be flown at halfmast for the remainder of FridayThe government said Princess Astrid will receive a funeral at state expense following an agreement with her family