Norway’s Princess Astrid Dies Two Days After Attending Brother King Harald’s Funeral
BBC News reports that Princess Astrid of Norway, sister of the late King Harald V, passed away at the age of 94, two days after attending her brother’s funeral. The announcement was made by the country’s royal palace.
The new king, Haakon VIII, praised Princess Astrid, stating: "Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner."
King Harald passed away last month at 89, after reigning for over 35 years. Princess Astrid’s funeral arrangements include state-funded burial and flying the flag at half-mast across Norway, as announced by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Astrid, the last surviving child of King Olav V, became Norway’s first lady in 1954 after her mother’s passing. She held the title until her brother’s marriage in 1968.
Her nephew, King Haakon, highlighted her dedication to "care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society." Health issues had plagued her in recent months, including a stay in hospital for pneumonia in March.
The funeral was attended by dozens of European royals and heads of state, including Prince Charles and five Nordic kings. Thousands lined the streets during the procession from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral. International leaders like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier also paid their respects.
In recent years, the Norwegian royal family faced personal challenges, including allegations surrounding Queen Mette-Marit’s association with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the jail sentence for her son Marius Borg Høiby on rape charges.
