Princess Astrid of Norway has been taken to hospital, where she is recovering from pneumonia, the palace has revealed.
The 94-year-old, who is the sister of King Harald, is resting at Oslo National Hospital and did not take part in last week’s state visit from the Belgian royal family. At the time, palace communications director Guri Varpe said that the princess needed “rest and convalescence” following her illness.
She is now said to be “on the road to recovery” after being admitted to the hospital last Friday.
King Harald and Queen Sonja were later spotted visiting her in the hospital. The palace has not yet provided further details, nor revealed when she is likely to be discharged.
A very hard-working royal
Princess Astrid celebrated her 94th birthday in February, with the Norwegian royal household wishing her a “really nice celebration” at the time. Despite celebrating such a milestone birthday, Astrid still spent the day working for the royal household.
Princess Astrid continues to hold 12 patronages and still carries out several official duties each year, completing 17 engagements in 2025. She still appears alongside the royal family at major events, including President Macron of France’s state visit last year.
The royal was previously the First Lady of Norway following the death of her mother, Crown Princess Märtha in 1954. Sonja later took over the role when she married the then Crown Prince in 1968.
Astrid has used a wheelchair since 2022, previously telling NRK: “I sit in a chair and stuff, but it’s my legs that fail and not so much my head, so I remember things and I can be involved with things.”
She has previously reinforced that she has no intention to retire from public duties and will continue to support her brother, King Harald.
A tense time
Princess Astrid has supported the Norwegian royal family through a very turbulent time. Her brother, King Harald, has also faced health difficulties in recent weeks, and was recently taken to hospital during a holiday to Tenerife with Queen Sonja.
Meanwhile, Crown Princess Mette-Marit is facing scrutiny over her friendship with the convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, taking part in a tearful interview with NRK in which she revealed she had been “manipulated and deceived”. Mette-Marit has health troubles of her own and is currently on the list for a lung transplant due to her pulmonary fibrosis.
© GettyHer son, Marius Borg Hoiby, has been on trial at Oslo District Court over allegations of rape.
And Princess Martha Louise, Harald and Sonja’s daughter, stepped back from royal duties over her controversial wedding to Durek Verrett, an American “shaman”.
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