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Princess Astrid has died, the Norwegian royal family announced today. Her last public appearance was earlier this week at the state funeral of her brother, King Harald V, on Wednesday.
“His Majesty the King has received with great sadness the news of the passing of Princess Astrid. The Princess fell asleep today, Friday 11 September, at the age of 94,” the palace said in a statement.
Her immediate family also shared a statement of their own: “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. And in addition – for those who needed a little extra care – you always showed genuine care. In our grief, we stand together in gratitude. Thank you for all the good memories. You will always have a big place in our hearts.” It was signed from her children, Cathrine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth, and Carl-Christian Ferner, and their families.
Princess Astrid’s nephew, King Haakon VIII, also shared his condolences for his late aunt. “Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner,” he wrote. “At the age of 22, she had to step into the role of First Lady when my grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha, passed away. In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society. She was very loyal and always carried out her duties with commitment, presence and an infectious spirit.”
He continued, “Aunt Astrid was an important support for King Harald and the rest of us in the family. We learned a lot from her and she was not afraid to speak up. Her passing is a great loss for us. We will miss her. My family and I send warm thoughts to Aunt Astrid’s closest friends.”
Princess Astrid had been was hospitalized on March 27, after “being ill for a period of time,” according to Se og Hør. She recovered from the bout of pneumonia, but in May, was hospitalized again due to heart failure and had a temporary pacemaker inserted. She was discharged sometime over the summer.
Anette Ask/The Royal Court
Princess Astrid during the 50th anniversary celebration of Dyslexia Norway on May 4, 2026.
Prior to the funeral, Astrid was previously seen in early May (above); she was one of the world’s oldest working royals. She was also pictured visiting her younger brother King Harald in the hospital before he passed away.
“It’s fun and nice to be useful,” she said in an interview on her 93rd birthday. “I sit in a chair and stuff, but it’s my legs that fail and not so much my head, so I remember things, and I can be involved with things.”
Bettmann//Getty Images
The Norwegian royal family in 1939; Astrid is seated on left, next to her older sister Princess Ragnhild.
Born in 1930, Princess Astrid was the daughter of the future King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha. When she was nine years old, German troops invaded Norway, and the royal family fled Oslo. Crown Princess Märtha and her children fled to Sweden, and then to the U.S. at the invitation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Princess Astrid spent the next five years in the suburbs of Washington DC, before returning to Norway in 1945.
Keystone//Getty Images
Astrid in 1961.
In 1961, she married Johan Martin Ferner, and they had five children, Cathrine (b. 1962), Benedikte (b. 1963), Alexander (b. 1965), Elisabeth (b. 1969), and Carl-Christian (b. 1972). Her husband died in January 2015, but she is survived by her five children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Øivind Möller Bakken/The Royal Collections
Queen Sonja and Princess Astrid at the opening of the exhibition “Threads in Time – From the National Tapestries to the Royal Tapestry.”
Ola Vatn, The Royal Court
A recent portrait of Astrid for her 94th birthday.
According to her official bio on the Norwegian royal family website, she is an avid sports fan and advocate for rescue dogs. “Princess Astrid is rarely seen without her dog, Wilma. Dogs have been a cherished part of her life from an early age — she received her first from her parents on her second birthday.”
Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.