It's a mourning month for King Haakon VIII and the entire Norwegian Royal Family!
A few days after grieving over King Harald V's death, when the globally royal joined His Majesty to share his grief, now the monarch is gearing up for another funeral of his beloved aunt, Princess Astrid.
The second and youngest daughter of King Olav passed away at the age of 94 on September 11th, three days after her brother King Harald V was laid to rest on September 9th, 2026.
King Haakon VIII's emotional move for Princess Astrid
Now, in a heartbreaking update, Haakon announced the funeral date of the late princess and revealed that she will be laid to rest at Ris Church in Oslo.
"Princess Astrid will be laid to rest today," the new Norwegian monarch confirmed before paying a heart wrenching homage to the former First Lady of Norway.
The royal statement continued, "Throughout a long life she supported the Royal House and worked under four kings: King Haakon VII, her father King Olav V, her brother King Harald V and, until the end, His Majesty King Haakon VIII."
"In recognition of her great efforts and warm loyalty, Princess Astrid was granted an honorary pension by the government on her 70th birthday in 2002," he added.
How did Princess Astrid died?
For the unversed, King Harald V's eldest sister, Princess Astrid, peacefully died at home after a recent decline in her overall health, having made her final public appearance in a wheelchair at Oslo Cathedral for her brother's funeral on September 9th, 2026.
The Royal Palace announced that she "fell asleep", and King Haakon VIII ordered flags to fly at half-mast from the palace balcony in her honor.
He also reacted to her death with a heartbreaking post on Instagram, which left the world teary-eyed, as he shared the unseen childhood moments of Princess Astrid with late King Harald V.
King Haakon VIII mourns Princess Astrid loss in a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram
"Princess Astrid turned 94 years old. For 14 years, from 1954 to 1968, Princess Astrid was Norway's first lady, and she had official assignments until the end," His Majesty lamented.
He went on, "Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned about care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society. She was very loyal and always carried out her tasks with dedication, presence and an infectious spirit. Aunt Astrid was an important support for King Harald and the rest of us in the family."
