Princess Astrid of Norway, sister of the late King Harald V, has died aged 94, two days after attending his funeral, the Royal Palace has confirmed.
King Haakon said that “throughout her long life, Princess Astrid served the Royal House with warmth, dignity and dedication”.
Harald died last month at the age of 89 after reigning for more than 35 years. His funeral was Astrid’s final public appearance.
The princess will be buried at state expense, and flags across Norway will be flown at half-mast, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said.
Astrid was the last surviving child of King Olav V, who reigned from 1957 until 1991.
She took on the role of Norway’s first lady at the age of 22 in 1954, following the death of her mother, Crown Princess Märtha. Olav never remarried, and Astrid continued in the role until her brother’s marriage in 1968.
“In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society,” King Haakon said in a statement.
Her health had declined in recent months, and she was treated in hospital for pneumonia in March.
Dozens of European royals and heads of state attended Harald’s funeral on Wednesday, including the Prince of Wales and three Nordic kings.
Thousands of people lined the route as the procession made its way from the royal palace to Oslo Cathedral on Wednesday afternoon.
Among the non-royal leaders paying tribute were Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and five foreign prime ministers.
