Princess Astrid

King Olav's younger daughter became Norway's first lady at the age of 22 and went on representing the royal house for more than seventy years. She gave up the style of Royal Highness in order to marry, and became known as Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner.

• Born while Skaugum was being rebuilt

Astrid was born on 12 February 1932, the daughter of Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha. Skaugum was being renovated after the fire in 1930, and she was therefore born at Solbakken near Skøyen in Oslo.

In an extraordinary council of state, King Haakon VII announced that the little princess would be called Astrid Maud Ingeborg. The names came from her aunt, Queen Astrid of the Belgians, and from her two grandmothers, Queen Maud and Princess Ingeborg. Princess Astrid was not in the line of succession.

Princess Astrid in 1935. Photo: Hermes, The Royal Collections

In 1934 the family were able to move back to Skaugum, and there she grew up in rural surroundings with her elder sister Ragnhild and her younger brother Harald.

• Five war years in the United States

Princess Astrid was nine years old when Germany attacked Norway on 9 April 1940. The royal family and the government fled northwards by train to avoid capture. That same night Crown Princess Märtha and the children crossed the border into Sweden, and on 12 August they travelled on to the United States at the invitation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

For the next five years they lived at Pook's Hill outside Washington. Crown Princess Märtha worked tirelessly for Norwegian interests, and the children contributed in their own way.

Prince Harald, Princess Ragnhild and Princess Astrid in naval uniforms. Photo: Underwood & Underwood, The Royal Collections Crown Princess Märtha and the children writing Christmas cards. Photo: The Royal Collections The family gathered at the piano at Pook's Hill. Photo: Kari Berggrav, The Royal Collections

On 7 June 1945 the family were finally able to return home. Thousands stood waiting at Honnørbrygga in Oslo.

• Oxford, ceramics and dressmaking

She had her first schooling at home at Skaugum, but after the war she started at the Nissen school for girls. She took her university entrance examination in 1950 and then studied social economics and political history at Oxford for two years.

Princess Astrid at her confirmation in 1948. Photo: S. A. Sturlason, The Royal Collections With her graduation cap in 1950. Photo: E. Rude, The Royal Collections

She later learned dressmaking at the Märtha school and cooking at Lolly Ræstad's household school. She also pursued her interest in craft, serving an apprenticeship at Halvor Sandø's ceramics workshop at Røa.

Princess Astrid with her teacher Lolly Ræstad at the household school in 1955. Photo: Nordby og Svensson / NTB

• Norway's first lady at 22

When Crown Princess Märtha died in 1954, Princess Astrid became Norway's first lady, only 22 years old. She held the role until Crown Princess Sonja took over in 1968.

At her desk at Skaugum in 1954. Photo: S. A. Sturlason, The Royal Collections

At the same time she was given responsibility for leading Crown Princess Märtha's Memorial Fund, a role that remained central to her work for the rest of her life.

Princess Astrid in 1958. Photo: S. A. Sturlason, The Royal Collections

• Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner

In November 1960 her engagement to Johan Martin Ferner was announced, and on 12 January 1961 they married in Asker Church. King Olav decided that his daughter would be styled Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner.

The engagement was announced in November 1960. Photo: Jan Stage / NTB The wedding in Asker Church on 12 January 1961. Photo: Stage / NTB

The couple had five children: Cathrine in 1962, Benedikte in 1963, Alexander in 1965, Elisabeth in 1969 and Carl-Christian in 1972. Johan Martin Ferner died on 24 January 2015.

On 22 July 1962 the couple’s first child, Cathrine, was born. Photo: NTB / Scanpix

• A faithful guest at Holmenkollen

Princess Astrid was passionate about sport, and followed it both officially and privately. She was a faithful guest at Holmenkollen and held the Holmenkollen Medal. To mark her eightieth birthday in 2012 she received the Ski Association's Birkebeiner plaque for her support of skiing.

At the Raw Air tournament at Holmenkollen. Photo: Liv Anette Luane, The Royal Court

• The dogs

The Princess was rarely seen without her dog. Dogs accompanied her throughout her life, and she was given her first by her parents on her second birthday. Both Wilma and her predecessor Tarzan were rehomed dogs.

Princess Astrid with her dog Tarzan in December 2021. Photo: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen, The Royal Court

"If a dog is not doing well where it lives, then it is good to be able to give it a good life," she said in an interview with NRK to mark her ninety-third birthday.

• At work for Norway all her life

Princess Astrid held twelve patronages. The Norwegian Women's Public Health Association was under her patronage from 1954 right up until she died.

She continued to represent the royal house to the very last, and passed away on 11 September 2026, aged 94. It was two weeks after her brother, King Harald V, died.