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.
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.
Her confirmation took place on 9 May 1948 in the Palace Chapel. Astrid studied ceramics with Halvor Sandøs and maintained her own pottery studio at Skaugum. She was also an accomplished skier and yachtswoman.
After completing the examen artium in 1950, Astrid studied economics and political history for two years at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University.
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. In September 1954, she took part in the ship tour organised by Queen Frederica and King Paul of Greece, later known as the "Cruise of the Kings", which was attended by more than 100 European royals.
Astrid married Johan Martin Ferner on 12 January 1961 at Asker Church, Oslo. 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.
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.
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. It was later confirmed that she was suffering from pneumonia.
Astrid is chair of the board of Crown Princess MärthaâÂÂs Memorial Fund, which provides financial support to social and humanitarian initiatives carried out by non-governmental organisations.
She is a patron of several organisations with a focus on children and young people with dyslexia, having the condition herself.
Astrid has been awarded the following orders and decorations: