Princess Astrid of Norway has died just two days after the
funeral of her younger brother, King Harald.
The princess, who was 94, passed away exactly a fortnight after
her brother. She had been unwell earlier this year and had wound
down her public engagements following a spell in hospital.
Her death was announced by King Haakon VIII.
Princess Astrid, who was first lady of Norway during the early
years of the reign of her father, Olav V, was last seen at the
funeral service of Harald V at Oslo Cathedral on September 9.
Astrid Maud Ingeborg was born on February 12 1932 in Oslo, the
second child and second daughter of Olav and his wife, Martha, who
were then Crown Prince and Princess of Norway. She was a great
granddaughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra and only the
second member of Norway’s new royal family to be born since the
creation of the new monarchy.
Princess Astrid was never in the line of succession to the
Norwegian throne as women were not allowed to succeed until the
late 20th century. The birth of her younger brother, Harald, when
she was five, secured the succession.
During World War Two and the Nazi occupation of Norway, Astrid
went into exile in the US with her mother, Crown Princess Martha,
and her siblings, Harald, and their eldest sister, Princess
Raghnhild.
The family returned to Norway in 1945 when Astrid was 13 and she
continued her education and going on to Oxford where she read
economics and political history.
In 1954, Crown Princess Martha died. Three years later, Astrid’s
father became King Olav V and she took on the role of first lady of
Norway as Raghnhild had already married and was living
overseas.
However, despite her popularity, Astrid encountered controversy
when she herself decided to marry. Her husband to be, Johan Martin
Ferner, was a commoner and had also been married before. Astrid was
determined to go ahead and the two married in January 1961 at Asker
church. They would go on to have five children.
Princess Astrid took on a wide range of engagements for Norway’s
royals and also stepped aside as first lady when her brother,
Harald, married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968. However, she maintained a
busy diary of engagements and was still working up until her
death.
Her place at the heart of Norway’s royal family was always
crucial and she was a regular at major events including State
Visits. Despite the controversies of recent years that engulfed the
family, Astrid remained loyal and was devoted to her younger
brother throughout his reign.
His loss clearly hit her hard and days before his funeral, she
was seen mourning at his coffin in a poignant image that would
prove to be the last official photo shared of her. She attended his
funeral and then retired to her own home.
Her death was announced on September 11.
She is survived by her five children as well as grandchildren
and great grandchildren.
Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner, 1932 – 2026
