Norway's Princess Astrid dies at 94, two days after King Harald's funeral
Princess Astrid of Norway died on Friday at age 94, two days after attending the state funeral of her younger brother, King Harald V.
Royal passing in Oslo
Norway's Princess Astrid, the older sister of the late King Harald V, died on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the age of 94. The royal palace announced that she died peacefully in her sleep at the royal palace grounds in Oslo, two days after attending her brother's state funeral. King Haakon VIII ordered flags across the palace to be flown at half-mast to commemorate his late aunt. Astrid was the last surviving child of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha, following the deaths of her older sister Princess Ragnhild in 2012 and King Harald on 28 August 2026.
Final public appearance at Oslo Cathedral
Princess Astrid made her last public appearance on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, during the funeral service for King Harald at Oslo Cathedral. Astrid, who had received a cardiac pacemaker in August, attended the service in a wheelchair to pay her final respects. During the private farewell preceding the public ceremony, she thanked her brother for everything they had shared together. The funeral drew foreign heads of state, including monarchs from Sweden, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Monaco, and Jordan, alongside political figures from more than 20 nations.
Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner.
Fourteen years as Norway's First Lady
Born on 12 February 1932 at the Skaugum estate, Princess Astrid spent part of her childhood in exile in Sweden and the United States after the 1940 German invasion of Norway. Following the death of Crown Princess Märtha from cancer in 1954, Astrid stepped into the role of Norway's First Lady at age 22, as Queen Maud had died in 1938 and her elder sister Ragnhild resided in Brazil. She represented the nation alongside her grandfather King Haakon VII and later her father King Olav V until Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968. During this tenure, she managed the Crown Princess Märtha Memorial Fund and dedicated public engagements to vulnerable groups.
- Princess Astrid is born to Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha.
- Royal family flees to Sweden and the United States during World War II.
- Assumes duties as Norway's First Lady at age 22 following her mother's death.
- Marries Olympic sailor Johan Martin Ferner.
- Concludes First Lady role upon Crown Prince Harald's marriage to Sonja Haraldsen.
- Brother King Harald V dies at age 89 after reigning for 35 years.
- Attends the state funeral of King Harald V at Oslo Cathedral.
- Dies peacefully in Oslo at age 94.
Family life and institutional legacy
In 1961, Astrid married Olympic sailing champion Johan Martin Ferner, who died in 2015; the couple had five children: Cathrine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth, and Carl Christian. Under the succession laws in place at the time of her birth, only male heirs could inherit the Norwegian throne, placing her younger brother ahead of her in the line of succession. Following the double loss of King Harald and Princess Astrid within two weeks, King Haakon VIII praised his aunt's forthright nature and loyalty to the institution.
Aunt Astrid was an important support for King Harald and for all of us in the family. We learned a lot from her and she was not afraid to speak her mind.
The new reign under King Haakon VIII
The passing of Princess Astrid follows the formal accession of King Haakon VIII, who took the constitutional oath of office before the Storting on 1 September 2026. The succession adhered to Norway's tradition established in 1908, proceeding without a formal coronation or regalia. Queen Sonja, now 89, will continue to carry out official duties in support of King Haakon VIII and Queen Mette-Marit while focusing on cultural initiatives. Palace officials confirmed that funeral arrangements for Princess Astrid will follow the conclusion of the mourning period.
