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Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

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Princess Astrid
Mrs. Ferner
Princess Astrid when she graduated from Nissen's Girls' School in 1950
Born (1932-02-12) 12 February 1932 (age 92)
Villa Solbakken, Oslo, Norway
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1961; died 2015)​
Issue
  • Cathrine Ferner
  • Benedikte Ferner
  • Alexander Ferner
  • Elisabeth Ferner
  • Carl-Christian Ferner
Names
Astrid Maud Ingeborg
HouseGlücksburg
FatherOlav V of Norway
MotherMärtha of Sweden
Norwegian royal family
* Member of the Norwegian Royal House

Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner (Astrid Maud Ingeborg; born 12 February 1932) is the second daughter of King Olav V and his wife, Princess Märtha of Sweden. She is the older sister of King Harald V of Norway and younger sister of the late Princess Ragnhild.

Life

Princess Astrid was born on 12 February 1932 at Villa Solbakken to the future King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha. She was baptized in the Palace Chapel on 31 March 1932 and 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 (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother); her grandaunt, Princess Thyra of Denmark; her granduncle, Prince Eugen of Sweden; and Prince George of the United Kingdom. Princess Astrid was named after her maternal aunt, paternal grandmother, and maternal grandmother.[1]

Princess Astrid grew up on the royal estate of Skaugum in Asker and was privately educated during her childhood. During World War II, she joined her family fleeing the Nazis and spent the war with her mother, brother and sister in exile in Washington, DC.[2] Following the royal family's return to Norway she attended Nissen's Girls' School and graduated with the examen artium university entrance exam in 1950.[3] She then studied economics and political history for two years at Oxford University.

Her Confirmation took place on 9 May 1948 in the Palace Chapel.

The princess later learnt other skills including dressmaking and cooking and pursued her interests in handicrafts.[citation needed] Princess Astrid studied ceramics with Halvor Sandøs.

Princess Astrid's mother died on 5 April 1954 from cancer at age 53 when Astrid was 22 years old.[citation needed] From her mother's death until her brother's marriage in August 1968, Princess Astrid was the senior lady of the court and acted as first lady of Norway, working side-by-side with her father on all representation duties, including state visits.[1] Princess Astrid raised her family in Vinderen; she now lives in Nordmarka, Oslo. Her hobbies include knitting, embroidery, reading and painting porcelain.[citation needed]

In 2002, the Government granted the Princess an honorary pension in recognition of all her efforts on behalf of Norway both during and following her years as first lady.[4] In 2005, she took part in ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, including the unveiling of a plaque marking the Norwegian monarch's exile in London.[5]

In February 2012, Princess Astrid celebrated her 80th birthday with a private dinner at the Royal Palace in Oslo.[6]

Marriage and children

Princess Astrid married divorced commoner Johan Martin Ferner in Asker Church on 12 January 1961. Together, the couple have five children, seven grandchildren, and as of 2023, three great-grandchildren.[7]

Patronages

Princess Astrid is chair of the board of Crown Princess Märtha’s Memorial Fund which provides financial support to social and humanitarian initiatives carried out by non-governmental organisations.[8]

She is a patron of several organisations. She has been particularly involved in work for children and young people with dyslexia, herself having that condition.

  • Foundation 3,14 – Gallery 3,14 (Hordaland International Art Gallery)
  • The Norwegian Women’s Public Health Association
  • The Norwegian Women’s and Family Association
  • The Norwegian Women’s Defence League
  • Oslo Art Association
  • The Norwegian Women’s Voluntary Defence Association
  • Inner Wheel Norway
  • The Norwegian Dyslexia Association
  • Dissimilis Norway
  • Foreningen for Kroniske Smertepasienter ("The Norwegian Association of Chronic Pain Patients")
  • Trondheim Symphony Orchestra[9]

Titles, styles and honours

Styles of
Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner
Reference styleHer Highness
Spoken styleYour Highness

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

See also: List of honours of the Norwegian Royal Family by country

Princess Astrid has been awarded the following orders and decorations:[10]

National honours

Foreign honours

Honorific eponym

Ancestry

Astrid is a great-granddaughter of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom and thus a second cousin to Queen Elizabeth II. At the time of her birth, she was 18th in the line of succession to the British throne.

References

  1. ^ a b "Princess Astrid celebrates her 80th birthday". Norwegian Royal House. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Her Highness Princess Astrid". Kongehuset.no. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  3. ^ Hartvig Nissens skole 150 år. 1999.
  4. ^ "Her Highness Princess Astrid". royalcourt.no.
  5. ^ "Plaque commemorating the King's exile". Kongehuset.no. 27 October 2005. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  6. ^ Berglund, Nina (12 February 2012). "Palace dinner for princess' 80th : Views and News from Norway". Newsinenglish.no. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  7. ^ "Family Ferner". Tv2.no. 11 February 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  8. ^ "kongehuset.no - Crown Princess Märtha's Memorial Fund". 6 December 2007. Archived from the original on 6 December 2007.
  9. ^ "Organisations under the patronage of Princess Astrid". Kongehuset.no. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  10. ^ "The Decorations of HH Princess Astrid". Royalcourt.no. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  11. ^ "The Decorations of HH Princess Astrid". Royalcourt.no. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  12. ^ "Tildeling av Kong Harald Vs jubileumsmedalje 1991-2016" (in Norwegian). 25 January 2016. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Fálkaorðuhafar" (in Norwegian). 6 May 2014. Archived from the original on 6 May 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF). Boe.es. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner
Born: 12 February 1932
Honorary titles
Preceded by President of Organizing Committee for Winter Olympic Games
1952
With: Haakon VII of Norway, Olaf Helset, House of Glücksburg 		Succeeded by
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