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Norway

Norway’s royals give update after princess admitted to hospital

By
28th March 2026

Norway’s royals have given an update after one of the most popular members of the family was admitted to hospital.

Princess Astrid, 94, was taken to the Rikshospitalet in Oslo on March 27 with her brother, King Harald, 89, seen visiting soon afterwards.

The princess hadn’t been seen in public for several weeks and missed the State Visit by the King and Queen of the Belgians.

Now, Norway’s royals have shared an update on Astrid’s health after concerns grew.

The royal court said the princess had contracted pneumonia but was now on the road to recovery.

It’s expected that she will continue her recuperation at home once doctors are satisfied she is well enough to leave hospital.

Princess Astrid is recovering after contracting pneumonia
( Liv Anette Luane, The Royal Court)

Princess Astrid is the only remaining sister of King Harald and still carries out a number of royal engagements every year. She is always seen at big events, like State Visits, so her absence when King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in Oslo was notable.

The princess was, for over ten years, the ”first lady” of Norway. When her father, King Olav, took the throne in 1957, the then 25 year old Astrid accompanied him on all major engagements as he was widowed. Her older sister, Princess Ragnhild, had moved to Brazil with her husband before their father’s accession.

The role of ”first lady” of the Norwegian court passed to the now Queen Sonja when she married Harald in 1968.

Since Harald’s accession as King of Norway in 1991, Princess Astrid has been one of his staunchest supporters.

Norway’s royals are currently at the centre of several controversies involving Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wife of the heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. She has been criticised after details of her extensive links with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, became public knowledge with the release of the Epstein files. Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Hoiby, is currently on trial for rape, accusations he denies.

King Harald and Queen Sonja remain popular but both have experienced health issues in the past months.

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About author

Lydia Starbuck is Editor in Chief at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.