Princess Astrid of Norway has died at the age of 94, the Norwegian Royal Court has announced. Days after the funeral of her younger brother, King Harald, Princess Astrid passed away on 11 September.
The Norwegian Royal Court issued a statement on behalf of her family and her nephew, King Haakon.
Princess Astrid had five children: Catherine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth and Carl-Christian with her late husband Johan Ferner.
Her children issued a joint statement through the royal court that read: “Thank you for being the best mother we could have. Throughout your life you were there for us—with love and wisdom, warmth and good humour. You were there for grandfather King Olav and uncle King Harald—present, loyal and dutiful. And in addition—for those who needed a little extra care—you always showed genuine care.”
They signed off, “In grief we stand together in gratitude.”
King Haakon has directed all flags to fly at half-mast today and the day of the funeral, which has not been announced, at the Royal Palace of Oslo.
In his statement, King Haakon praised the “dutiful manner” in which his aunt represented the Norwegian Royal Family through four reigns.
He continued: “In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society. She was very loyal and always carried out her duties with commitment, presence and an infectious spirit.
“Aunt Astrid was an important support for King Harald and the rest of us in the family. We learned a lot from her and she was not afraid to speak up. Her passing is a great loss for us. We will miss her. My family and I send warm thoughts to Aunt Astrid’s closest friends.”
Princess Astrid was born on 12 February 1932, the middle child of King Olav and Crown Princess Märtha. She served as the First Lady of Norway following the death of her mother in 1954 through to the marriage of her brother, then-Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja, in 1968. Afterwards, she continued supporting the Norwegian Royal Family.
