Princess Astrid of Norway, the sister of the late King Harald V, has died at the age of 94, two days after attending his funeral.
The king died last month, aged 89, after more than 35 years on the throne. The funeral, held at Oslo Cathedral, was attended by royals across Europe along with heads of state such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
During the procession, Astrid, who moved in a wheelchair, was the last public figure to stand before the coffin. Her attendance marked her final public engagement; she had been admitted to hospital for pneumonia in March and had suffered a decline in health in the weeks that followed.
King Haakon VIII praised her for representing the Royal House with warmth and duty throughout her long life. "In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society," he said in a statement.
The princess, who served as Norway’s first lady from 1954 until 1968, was the last surviving child of King Olav V. Her death will be marked by a state burial, with flags flown at half-mast across Norway as announced by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
In the months before King Harald’s passing, the Norwegian royal family faced scrutiny over alleged links to Jeffrey Epstein and a family member’s conviction for rape. Despite these challenges, the royal house maintained its ceremonial duties and paid tribute to the late king in the world’s most solemn occasion.
