Norway's Princess Astrid dies at 94 two days after brother King Harald's…
The Norwegian royal family is in mourning following the death of Princess Astrid, who died on 11 September 2026 shortly after the state funeral of her brother, King Harald.
Norway's Princess Astrid, 94, died on 11 September 2026, just two days after attending the state funeral of her brother, King Harald V, the Norwegian Royal Court announced. Her death occurred amid a period of profound mourning for the royal family, which had already lost King Harald on 28 August after a 35-year reign. The palace described her passing as a “great sadness,” emphasizing her decades of service to the monarchy and her commitment to social causes.
Princess Astrid’s final public appearance was at Harald’s funeral on 9 September, where she attended the ceremony at Oslo Cathedral in a wheelchair. She had been a central figure in the royal family’s mourning, having accompanied her brother during his final days. The funeral, which drew international dignitaries and thousands of mourners, marked the end of 13 days of national mourning. Harald, who was 89, was remembered as a reformer and a popular monarch, with his son, King Haakon VIII, assuming the throne shortly after his father’s death.
"Aunt Astrid was an important pillar for King Harald and the rest of us in the family," the Norwegian royal court quoted King Haakon VIII as saying. "We learned a lot from her and she was not afraid to speak her mind. Her death is a great loss for us. We will miss her."
Video: She Couldn’t Live Without Him: Princess Astrid Dies 2 Days After King Harald — The royal feed (YouTube)King Haakon VIII, via Yahoo.com
The Norwegian Royal Court ordered flags to be flown at half-mast from the Palace balcony on Friday and on the day of Princess Astrid’s funeral. King Haakon VIII praised her for a “lifetime of warm and dutiful service to the Norwegian Royal House,” noting her role as First Lady of Norway from 1954 to 1968. He highlighted her dedication to “care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society,” a theme central to her charitable work.
Princess Astrid’s health history includes a recent hospitalization for pneumonia in 2026 and a temporary pacemaker implanted in May, which she continued to manage while performing royal duties. She had used a wheelchair since 2022 due to mobility issues. The royal palace did not disclose an official cause of death, and no sources confirmed whether her recent medical conditions contributed to her passing.
A detailed family statement from her children, including Cathrine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth, and Carl-Christian Ferner, honored her “wisdom, warmth, and good humor.” The statement read: “Dear mother, dear Princess Astrid, 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 humor. You were there for grandfather King Olav and uncle King Harald — present, loyal, and dutiful.”
Princess Astrid was born on 12 February 1932, the second child of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha. She spent part of World War II in exile in the United States with her family before returning to Norway in 1945. She studied economics and political history at Oxford and became First Lady of Norway in 1954 after her mother’s death. Despite controversies surrounding her 1961 marriage to commoner Johan Martin Ferner, she remained a steadfast figure in the royal family.
Her role in the monarchy was shaped by her brother’s succession. Women were excluded from the line of succession until the late 20th century, and her younger brother Harald’s birth secured the throne for him. Throughout her life, she held 12 patronages, including the Norwegian Women’s Sanitary Association, and was chairwoman of the Crown Princess Märtha Memorial Foundation. She continued her work despite health challenges, stating in a 2024 interview, “It’s fun and nice to be useful.”
The Norwegian royal family has yet to announce plans for Astrid’s funeral, though flags at the palace will remain at half-mast. Her death raises questions about the future of the monarchy’s public engagements, as she had been a visible figure in royal events. The timing of her passing, so soon after her brother’s funeral, has also sparked speculation about the emotional toll of the loss, though no sources attribute her death to a specific medical or emotional cause.
Princess Astrid is survived by her five children. Her legacy as a devoted royal and advocate for social causes will remain a focal point of reflection for the Norwegian monarchy and its people.
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