Princess Astrid of Norway has died at the age of 94, the Norwegian royal household announced on Friday, 11 September. “Princess Astrid has died,” the royal household said in a brief statement, adding: “His Majesty the King has received the news with great sorrow.”
Her death comes only 14 days after the accession of her nephew, Haakon VIII, who became monarch following the death of his father, King Harald, on 28 August at the age of 89. Princess Astrid’s death therefore marks another major loss for Norway’s royal family within a matter of weeks.
Astrid’s final public appearance came on Wednesday, 9 September, when she attended the state funeral for her younger brother in Oslo. Despite her fragile health, she joined other members of the royal family at the funeral service at Oslo Cathedral and later at the private ceremony held at Akershus Fortress, where Harald’s remains were laid to rest alongside those of his parents and grandparents.
Her health, however, prevented her from taking part in the royal procession that accompanied the coffin from the Royal Palace to the church. Astrid had spent more than six months in hospital following various complications arising from pneumonia. Although she was discharged in August, her condition remained sufficiently serious that her participation in the final farewell to her brother was uncertain.
In the days before the funeral, Astrid had made only a strictly private visit to Rikshospitalet in Oslo to say goodbye to Harald during his final hours. She had not taken part in the parliamentary ceremonies or other family events following his death.
It was not until 3 September that the princess was seen in public for the first time since her brother’s death. A day later, she visited the chapel of repose at the Royal Palace to mourn Harald privately. The royal household released photographs of the occasion showing Astrid alone before her brother’s coffin, seated in a wheelchair and dressed in formal mourning.
Her appearance at the funeral on 9 September would become her final public appearance. Although present at Oslo Cathedral, she remained largely in the background because of her health. Just two days later, the royal household announced her death.
The royal family paid tribute to Astrid as a figure of loyalty, warmth and service. “Dear mother, dear Princess Astrid, thank you for being the best mother we could have had. Throughout your life, you were there for us with love and wisdom, warmth and good humour,” the family said in its statement. It also praised her lifelong presence beside King Olav and King Harald and her sincere care for people who needed particular attention.
Haakon VIII also paid tribute to his aunt, describing her long service to the royal household. “Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House with warmth and dedication,” he said. He recalled that at the age of 22 she had assumed the role of First Lady following the death of his grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha.
The new king also highlighted Astrid’s particular interest in the care and inclusion of vulnerable people in society, describing her as loyal, committed and consistently present in her duties. Her death, coming so soon after Harald’s, closes a deeply poignant chapter for Norway’s royal family.
