Norwegian Prime Minister honors late Princess Astrid with state funeral pledge

Princess Astrid, the youngest of King Harald’s two elder sisters, died on Friday at the age of 94. Jonas Gahr Støre, Norway’s prime minister, received the news with deep regret and, on behalf of the government, thanked her for her extensive contributions to the country. He described her as a skilled, devoted, and engaged royal representative who remained active until the end.

Støre recalled their many encounters, most recently at King Harald’s funeral where she took part in ceremonies at Oslo Cathedral and the Royal Chapel. He offered condolences to her close relatives and the royal family, noting the personal loss. The prime minister also confirmed that Astrid will receive a state-funded burial, underscoring her historic role as the monarchy’s foremost female figure for fourteen years before Crown Princess Sonja took over in 1968.