Norway's Princess Astrid dies at 94, two days after King Harald's funeral

Norway Mourns the Loss of Princess Astrid

Norway is mourning the loss of Princess Astrid, the older sister of the late King Harald, who died on Friday at the age of 94. Princess Astrid passed away just two days after attending her brother's state funeral, which was held on Wednesday. The Norwegian royal family has announced that flags will be flown at half-mast to commemorate the late princess, and funeral arrangements are pending.

Princess Astrid's Life and Legacy

Princess Astrid served as Norway's first lady for over a decade after her mother's death in 1954. She was just 22 years old at the time and took on the role with dedication and commitment. Princess Astrid was known for her warm and dutiful manner, and her commitment to promoting the Norwegian royal family and supporting various organizations. As King Haakon VIII said, "Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner." She was also a strong advocate for people with dyslexia, a condition she herself suffered from, and worked tirelessly to raise awareness and support for those affected.

King Harald's Funeral

King Harald's funeral was held on Wednesday, with crowds lining the streets and foreign royals and leaders converging on Oslo to pay their respects. The funeral procession began at the royal palace and made its way to Oslo Cathedral, where a 21-gun salute was held in honor of the late king. Princess Astrid was in attendance, and it was her last public appearance before her passing. As reported, "Princess Astrid is reported to have said goodbye to her brother in the cathedral and thanked him for 'everything we’ve had together'."

Reactions to Princess Astrid's Death

The Norwegian royal family has released a statement expressing their sadness and grief at Princess Astrid's passing. King Haakon VIII, the new king of Norway, said that Princess Astrid "represented the Royal House in a warm and dutiful manner" and that her death is a great loss for the family. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also paid tribute to Princess Astrid, describing her as "a clever, dedicated and engaged representative of the Royal Family right to the end." Her children claimed she was "the best mama we could have had," hailing her "wisdom, warmth and good humour."

Funeral Arrangements

Funeral arrangements for Princess Astrid are pending, but it is expected that she will be given a funeral in recognition of her service to the Norwegian royal family and the country. The flag on the palace balcony will be flown at half-mast on the day of her funeral, and all public buildings will also lower their flags to half-mast as a mark of respect.

Detail	Information
Age at death	94
Relationship to King Harald	Older sister
Role in the royal family	Norway's first lady for over a decade
Funeral arrangements	Pending

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Princess Astrid?

Princess Astrid was the older sister of the late King Harald of Norway and served as Norway's first lady for over a decade after her mother's death in 1954.

How did Princess Astrid die?

Princess Astrid passed away on Friday at the age of 94, just two days after attending her brother's state funeral. The cause of her death has not been announced.

What will happen to Princess Astrid's funeral arrangements?

Funeral arrangements for Princess Astrid are pending.