Norway’s Princess Astrid, elder sister of the late King Harald, has died at the age of 94, the Norwegian royal palace has announced.
Her death came just two days after she attended the funeral of her brother, who died last month aged 89 after more than three decades as Norway’s monarch.
Astrid’s final public appearance was at Harald’s funeral on Wednesday in Oslo, where members of the Norwegian royal family and visiting royals gathered to pay their respects.
Princess Astrid dies after long public service
The Norwegian royal palace described Astrid as a dedicated representative of the royal family throughout her long life.
“Throughout her long life, Princess Astrid represented the royal house in a warm and dutiful manner,” King Haakon VIII said in the palace statement.
No details have yet been released about the cause of her death or arrangements for her funeral.
Astrid had remained an important figure within Norway’s royal household despite not being a reigning monarch.
She attended King Harald’s final ceremony
Astrid was among those present in Oslo Cathedral on Wednesday for the funeral of King Harald, whose 35-year reign ended with his death last month.
The ceremony followed 13 days of national mourning and began after a nationwide minute of silence.
Queen Sonja, Harald’s widow, attended alongside their son and successor, King Haakon VIII, and Queen Mette-Marit.
Members of royal families from several countries also travelled to Norway for the service, including the Prince of Wales, who represented the British monarch.
Thousands of people gathered in central Oslo to watch Harald’s funeral procession. Norwegian police said the security operation surrounding the event was the largest planned operation in the country’s history.
A double loss for Norway’s royal family
Astrid’s death so soon after her brother’s funeral adds another loss to a Norwegian monarchy already facing a period of upheaval.
Harald became king more than 35 years ago and was widely regarded as a modernising monarch who gradually established his own public identity after succeeding his popular father.
His death marked the end of one of the longest reigns in modern Norwegian royal history.
Astrid’s passing now leaves the Norwegian royal family mourning another senior member only days after thousands of people gathered in Oslo to say farewell to her brother.
The palace has yet to announce when Astrid’s funeral will be held.
