Europe · updated 1h ago · 3 min read
Norway’s Princess Astrid Dies Aged 94 Two Days After King Harald V’s Funeral
Princess Astrid died at 94, two days after her brother King Harald V's funeral. Royal palace announced her death; flag to be flown at half-mast.
11 outlets, one story, no spin found.
10 of 11 outlets skipped it: sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf offered condolences and cited meeting her at Harald's funeral..
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Astrid’s death after Harald
Norway’s Princess Astrid, the older sister of the late King Harald V, died on Friday, September 11, at the age of 94, just two days after she attended his state funeral on Wednesday, September 9, at Oslo Cathedral.
“The Norwegian Royal House announced the news on Friday, September 11”
The Norwegian royal palace said the princess “passed away peacefully” earlier that day, and King Haakon VIII ordered the flag above the Royal Palace balcony to be flown at half-mast on Friday and again on the day of Princess Astrid’s funeral.
In Oslo, the funeral for King Harald V marked the end of 13 days of national mourning following his death, and the procession began with a 21-gun salute as crowds lined Karl Johan Avenue.
Reuters reported that Astrid made her last public appearance at her brother’s funeral on Wednesday, and that Harald died last month at the age of 89 after more than 35 years on the throne.
In a statement quoted by Reuters, King Haakon VIII said: “Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner.”
Tributes, flags, and attendance
King Haakon VIII described Princess Astrid as “a great loss” and said, “We will miss her,” while Euronews reported the king also announced half-mast flags from the Palace balcony.
At the funeral service for King Harald V, BBC said the Prince of Wales attended on behalf of King Charles III, and it also listed King Abdullah II of Jordan and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky among those in attendance.
Marie Claire reported that King Haakon called Astrid’s death “a great loss” and said she left a note on a wreath laid in Oslo Cathedral that read: “Thank you for everything we've had together. Your Astrid.”
Town & Country Magazine said King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden was among the first foreign royals to offer condolences, and it quoted his statement: “The Queen and I have received with sadness the news that Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, has passed away.”
The Independent said Norway came to a halt for a minute of silence as the funeral began, and it described Astrid’s goodbye in the cathedral as she thanked Harald for “everything we’ve had together”.
What comes next for Norway
With Princess Astrid’s death announced on Friday, September 11, multiple outlets said details of her funeral had not yet been released, including Sky News and The Times of India.
“No details have been disclosed yet on when her funeral might take place”
Sky News reported that no details have been disclosed yet on when her funeral might take place, while The Times of India said “No details have yet been announced about Princess Astrid’s funeral.”
BBC described how the procession ended with the new King Haakon VIII waving from the Royal Palace balcony, marking the beginning of a new reign after Harald’s burial at Akershus Fortress.
In the days leading up to Astrid’s final appearance, Reuters said she was an older sister of the late King Harald and that she made her last public appearance at his funeral on Wednesday, September 9.
As Norway marked the deaths of both royals in quick succession, the palace statement and royal tributes centered on her role representing the Royal House, including King Haakon VIII’s line that she was “never afraid to speak her mind.”