Norway's Princess Astrid, 94, Mourns Her Brother King Harald in Palace Chapel Photos
The Royal House of Norway has shared photographs of 94-year-old Princess Astrid seated in a wheelchair beside the coffin of her brother, King Harald V, in the Palace Chapel in Oslo. The images, posted to social media on September 3, offer a first glimpse of the private mourning inside the chapel where the late king lies in state ahead of his funeral on September 9. Town & Country
Two additional photographs show the princess at a window of the Royal Palace, looking out over Palace Square. Below, Norwegians have been gathering to leave flowers, candles, letters, and photographs in memory of the king, who died on August 28 at Oslo University Hospital at age 89. Reuters
Princess Astrid is the last surviving sibling of King Harald. Their elder sister, Princess Ragnhild, died in 2012 at her home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Astrid, born in 1932, is the second daughter of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha — and is considered the oldest working royal in Europe. Her last official public engagement was in May, when she attended the 50th anniversary celebration of Dyslexia Norway. Earlier this year, she was hospitalized following heart failure. Town & Country
King Harald reigned for 35 years. The Royal House of Norway announced his death with a brief statement: "It is with deep sorrow we announce that His Majesty King Harald passed away today." Kongehuset.no
Norway's monarchy, like Britain's, operates on hereditary succession. The former Crown Prince Haakon, Harald's son, has taken over the throne as the first in the line of succession and is now styled King Haakon VIII. He took the oath to the Norwegian Constitution before the Storting — Norway's parliament — on September 1. On September 2, the new king declared court mourning, a formal period of restricted public activity for the royal household, lasting through October 9. Kongehuset.no
On September 4, King Haakon held a Council of State at the Royal Palace — a formal meeting between the monarch and government ministers. He then received representatives of the Sami Parliament and the Norwegian Armed Forces in separate condolence audiences, with the Crown Princess present at both. Kongehuset.no
King Harald is survived by his wife since 1968, Queen Sonja, their daughter Princess Märtha Louise, and Princess Astrid. The Royal House has published a series of memorial articles covering the late king's life — his years as a wartime refugee, his service as a cavalryman, his passion for sports, his environmental advocacy, and his work with children. People
The photographs of Princess Astrid at her brother's coffin carry a particular weight. She is 94, recovering from heart failure, and mourning the last of her siblings. The images bring the human fact of a family's loss into the public ritual of a state funeral.
