Norway’s King Harald V’s sister, HRH Princess Astrid Mrs Ferner celebrates her 85th Birthday on Sunday, 12 February 2017.
King Harald hosted a dinner in Princess Astrid’s honour at the Royal Palace on Friday, 10 February.
The Norwegian Royal Court has released two new photographs to mark this special milestone.
Biography
Princess Astrid was born at Villa Solbakken in 1932, the second daughter of King Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden.
She spent her childhood at Skaugum Estate, near Oslo, until the Nazis invaded Norway on 9 April 1940.
Crown Princess Märtha and her three children fled to Sweden to avoid being captured, whilst Crown Prince Olav remained with his father, King Haakon VII, until they were forced into exile. The King and the Crown Prince lived in London, working with the Norwegian resistance until the war was over.
After a few months in Sweden, the Crown Princess and her three children travelled to the United States where they lived in Washington DC until peace was declared in 1945.
Princess Astrid attended the Nissen Girls’ School, completing her high school education in 1950. She studied economics and political history for two years at Oxford University.
The princess later learnt other skills including dressmaking and cooking and pursued her interests in handicrafts. Princess Astrid studied ceramics with the renowned artists Halvor Sandøs.
However, Princess Astrid became Norway’s First Lady when her mother passed away in 1954 until her brother, Crown Prince Harald, married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968.
Princess Astrid married Johan Martin Ferner in Asker Church in 1961. They have five children. Johan Ferner died on 24 January 2015.
She continues to represent King Harald and the Royal Family at many official functions throughout the year.
Princess Astrid is the Chair of the board of directors of the Crown Princess Märtha’s Memorial Fund and she is the patron of several organisations, including those who focus on children and teenagers with dyslexia.
The Norwegian government granted Princess Astrid an honourary pension in 2002 on the nation’s behalf, recognising all her efforts both during and after her years as First Lady.
Birthday Greetings Portal
Those wishing to pass on messages to HRH Princess Astrid can do so, via the Norway Royal Family’s official website until 9.00 am (local time) on Monday, 13 February.
