Norwegian royals mourn Princess Astrid who died two weeks after her brother, King Harald

The king and queen of Norway, and their extended family, have come together to farewell one of their own for the second time in a month.

King Haakon VIII and his wife Queen Mette-Marit lead mourners at the funeral of Princess Astrid, who died on September 11 − just two days after attending the funeral of her brother, the late King Harald V.

Princess Astrid, who was 94, was last seen King Harald’s state funeral on September 9 at Oslo Cathedral. Harald died on August 28, aged 89, after a 35-year reign as Norway’s king.

She was farewelled at a service held at Ris Church, in Oslo, on Wednesday.

Her nephew King Haakon arrived with his wife Queen Mette-Marit, who remains on sick leave following a lung transplant in June. Their daughter Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who lived in Australia for a year while studying at Sydney University, was there too alongside her younger brother Prince Sverre Magnus.

Queen Mette-Marit’s other son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg Høiby, was not in attendance. However his name was included on a floral wreath laid at the base of Astrid’s coffin.

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The 29-year-old was seated in the second row at King Harald’s funeral after he was convicted of rape and assault in June. The state funeral was attended by dozens of royals and heads of state from around the world.

Høiby remains under house arrest at the royal family’s private estate and he was given special permission from police to attend the service, along with other mourning events the week before.

He is appealing the four-year prison term and the case will begin on February 9, 2027, in the Borgarting Court of Appeal.

The other mourners at Princess Astrid’s funeral on Wednesday included her five children and King Harald’s widow, Queen Sonja, and her daughter Princess Märtha Louise, who sat next to her husband Shaman Durek Verret, who received a kidney transplant in August.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden was there too, returning to Norway after attending King Harald’s farewell.

Astrid was the last surviving child of King Olav V, who reigned from 1957 to 1991.

In 1954 at the age of 22, Astrid became Norway’s first lady after the death of her mother Crown Princess Märtha. Her father did not remarry and Astrid retained the title until her brother King Harald married in 1968.

Norway’s finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg spoke at the funeral, paying tribute to Astrid’s dedication to her family and her country.

“King Harald was Princess Astrid’s little brother,” Stoltenberg said.

“And you are a little brother all your life. Astrid looked after Harald. And she did that until the end. Two days after his funeral, she herself passed away.”

King Haakon previously applauded his aunty’s service, highlighting her concern for “the most vulnerable in society”.

“In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society,” Haakon said earlier this month.

“She was very loyal and always carried out her duties with commitment, presence and an infectious spirit. 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.”

Next week, the king and queen and crown princess will attend the opening of Norway’s parliament marking their most high-profile event since the funeral of King Harald.