Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner (Astrid Maud Ingeborg; born 12 February 1932), is the second daughter of King Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden. She is the older sister of King Harald V of Norway and the younger sister of the late Princess Ragnhild. Following her mother's death in 1954, she served as Norway's first lady during the reign of her grandfather, King Haakon VII, and continued in this role throughout her father's reign until her brother's marriage in 1968.

Astrid married Johan Martin Ferner in 1961 and has five children. In later life she has undertaken public engagements, received an honorary government pension, and remained active in commemorative events. She is chair of Crown Princess Märtha's Memorial Fund and patron of several organisations, particularly those supporting children and young people with dyslexia.

Early life and education

Astrid was born on 12 February 1932 at Villa Solbakken to the future King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha. She was baptised in the Palace Chapel on 31 March. Her godparents were her paternal grandparents, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway; her maternal grandparents, Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg of Sweden; her maternal aunt, Princess Astrid, Duchess of Brabant; Elizabeth, Duchess of York; her grandaunt, Princess Thyra of Denmark; her granduncle, Prince Eugen of Sweden; and Prince George of the United Kingdom. She was named after her maternal aunt, her paternal grandmother, and her maternal grandmother. Astrid is a great-granddaughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom and therefore a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. At the time of her birth, she was 18th in the line of succession to the British throne.

Astrid grew up on the royal estate of Skaugum in Asker and was privately educated. During World War II, she joined her family in fleeing the Nazi invasion and spent the war years in exile in Washington, D.C., with her mother, brother, and sister. After the royal family returned to Norway, she attended Nissen's Girls' School.

After completing the examen artium in 1950, Astrid studied economics and political history for two years at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.

Public role

Astrid's mother died in 1954. From that year until her brother's marriage in August 1968, she served as the senior lady of the court and acted as Norway's first lady, undertaking representation duties alongside her father, including state visits. They met when she hired him to sail her yacht in a race. The marriage faced opposition from the Norwegian Church because Ferner had been previously married. After the wedding, she became known as Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner, and ceased to receive the annual endowment of 50,000 Norwegian crowns that she had been granted as first lady. They had five children, seven grandchildren, and as of 2023, three great-grandchildren. The couple raised their family in Vinderen. She now lives in Nordmarka, Oslo.

Cathrine Ferner (b. 22 July 1962, Oslo), married 9 December 1989 in Oslo, Arild Johansen (b. 18 June 1961, Oslo), and has two children:
Sebastian Ferner Johansen (b. 9 March 1990, Oslo), and his partner Ida Belinda Lundstrøm have two children: a daughter born in 2019, and a son born in 2021.
Nicoline Johansen (born in 2019)
Ferdinand Johansen (born in 2021)
Madeleine Ferner Johansen (b. 7 March 1993, Oslo), married 17 October 2022 in Oslo, Ole-Aleksander Karlsen, and has one daughter, born in 2023.
Hermine Karlsen (born in 2023)
Benedikte Ferner (b. 27 September 1963, Oslo), married firstly 30 April 1994 in Oslo (divorced 1998) Rolf Woods (b. 17 June 1963, Oslo), without issue, and married secondly on 2 December 2000 in Oslo and separated in 2002, Mons Einar Stange (b. 26 May 1962, Oslo), without issue.
Alexander Ferner (b. 15 March 1965, Oslo), married 27 July 1996 in Holmenkollen Kapell, Oslo, Margrét Gudmundsdóttir (b. 27 March 1966, Reykjavík, Iceland), and has two children:
Edward Ferner (b. 28 March 1996, Bærum, Norway).
Stella Ferner (b. 23 April 1998, Bærum, Norway).
Elisabeth Ferner (b. 30 March 1969, Oslo), married 3 October 1992 in Oslo, Tom Folke Beckmann (b. 14 January 1963, Oslo), and has one son:
Benjamin Ferner Beckmann (b. 25 April 1999, Oslo).
Carl-Christian Ferner (b. 22 October 1972, Oslo), married 4 October 2014 in Oslo, Anna-Stina Slattum and they have two daughters together, born in 2018 and 2021:
Fay Ferner, (born 10 July 2018)
Fam Ferner, (born 28 January 2021)

Later life

In 2002, the government granted Astrid an honorary pension in recognition of her service to Norway, both during and after her years as first lady. In 2005, she took part in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, including the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the Norwegian monarch's exile in London.

In February 2012, Astrid celebrated her 80th birthday with a private dinner at the Royal Palace in Oslo.

Health

In March 2026, Astrid was hospitalised following a short illness and was therefore unable to attend the state visit to Norway by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. The Royal Palace stated that she required rest and recovery but did not initially release further details. According to media reports, her brother, King Harald V, and Queen Sonja visited her in hospital in Oslo on 27 March. In May 2026, she was hospitalised again after carrying out a public engagement.

Patronages

Astrid is chair of the board of Crown Princess Märtha’s Memorial Fund,

She is a patron of several organisations with a focus on children and young people with dyslexia, having the condition herself.

Foundation 3,14 – Gallery 3,14 (Hordaland International Art Gallery)
The Norwegian Women’s Public Health Association

Titles, styles and honours

Titles

12 February 1932 – 12 January 1961: Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Norway
12 January 1961 – present: Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

Honours

Astrid has been awarded the following orders and decorations:

National honours

: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav
: Dame of the Royal Family Order of Haakon VII of Norway
: Dame of the Royal Family Order of King Olav V of Norway
: Dame of the Royal Family Order of King Harald V of Norway
: Recipient of the King Haakon VII Golden Jubilee Medal
: Recipient of the Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of King Haakon VII
: Recipient of the King Olav V Silver Jubilee Medal
: Recipient of the King Olav V Commemorative Medal
: Recipient of the Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of King Olav V
: Recipient of the Royal House Centenary Medal
: Recipient of the King Harald V Silver Jubilee Medal
: Recipient of the Holmenkollen Medal

Foreign honours

: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose
: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
: Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Star of Jordan
: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange
: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic
: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star
: Recipient of 90th Birthday Medal of King Gustav V
: Recipient of 50th Birthday Medal of King Carl XVI
: Knight Grand Cordon of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
: Recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal