View source for Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

{{Short description|Norwegian princess (born 1932)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name         = Princess Astrid
| title        = Mrs. Ferner
| full name    = Astrid Maud Ingeborg
| image        = Prinsesse Astrid - no-nb digifoto 20160111 00009 bldsa pk kgl0077 (cropped).jpg
| caption      = Princess Astrid when she was a ''[[Russ (Norwegian celebrant)|russ]]'' from [[Nissen's Girls' School]] in 1950
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1932|02|12}}
| birth_place  = Villa Solbakken, [[Oslo]], Norway
| house        = [[House of Glücksburg|Glücksburg]]
| spouse       = {{marriage|[[Johan Ferner|Johan Martin Ferner]]|1961|2015|end=d.}}
| issue        = {{plainlist|
*Cathrine Ferner
*Benedikte Ferner
*Alexander Ferner
*Elisabeth Ferner
*Carl-Christian Ferner}}
| father       = [[Olav V of Norway]]
| mother       = [[Märtha of Sweden]]
}}

{{Norwegian Royal Family}}

'''Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner''' (Astrid Maud Ingeborg; born 12 February 1932) is the second daughter of King [[Olav V of Norway|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, Mrs. Lorentzen|Princess Ragnhild]]. She became the “first lady” of Norway during the reign of her grandfather, Haakon VII, after her mother’s death in 1954, and continued in this role during her father’s reign until her brother married in 1968.

==Life==
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 [[Slottskapellet (Oslo)|Palace Chapel]] on 31 March 1932. Her godparents were her paternal grandparents, [[Haakon VII of Norway|King Haakon VII]] and [[Maud of Wales|Queen Maud of Norway]]; her maternal grandparents, [[Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland|Prince Carl]] and [[Princess Ingeborg of Denmark|Princess Ingeborg of Sweden]]; her maternal aunt, [[Astrid of Sweden|Princess Astrid, Duchess of Brabant]]; [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Elizabeth, Duchess of York]]; her grandaunt, [[Princess Thyra of Denmark (1880–1945)|Princess Thyra of Denmark]]; her granduncle, [[Prince Eugen, Duke of Närke|Prince Eugen of Sweden]]; and [[Prince George, Duke of Kent|Prince George of the United Kingdom]]. Astrid was named after her maternal aunt, paternal grandmother, and maternal grandmother.<ref name="royalhouse">{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcourt.no/nyhet.html?tid=96935&sek=27262|title=Princess Astrid celebrates her 80th birthday|date=11 February 2012|work=Norwegian Royal House|access-date=28 September 2019}}</ref> 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 [[Succession to the British throne|line of succession to the British throne]].

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/c27292/artikkel/vis.html?tid=28755 |title=Her Highness Princess Astrid |website=Kongehuset.no |access-date=1 February 2013}}</ref> Following the royal family's return to Norway she attended [[Hartvig Nissen School|Nissen's Girls' School]] and graduated with the [[examen artium]] university entrance exam in 1950.<ref>''[http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2010120820007 Hartvig Nissens skole 150 år]''. 1999.</ref> She then studied economics and political history for two years at [[Lady Margaret Hall]], [[Oxford University]].<ref>{{cite news |date=1960-11-14 |work=The Birmingham Post |author=<!--Not stated-->   |title=Princess Astrid to marry commoner |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/917531459/?match=1&terms=%22Princess%20Astrid%2C%20Mrs.%20Ferner%22 |page=13 |location=Birmingham, UK }}</ref>

Her [[confirmation]] took place on 9 May 1948 in the Palace Chapel. Astrid studied ceramics with Halvor Sandøs and had her own pottery studio in Skaugum. She was an accomplished ski-er and yachtswoman.<ref>{{cite news |date=1962-10-17 |work=The Scotsman |author=<!--Not stated-->   |title=The Norwegian Princesses |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19621017/113/0006 |page=6 |location=Edinburgh, UK }}</ref> 

Astrid's mother died in 1954. From which time until her brother's marriage in August 1968 she 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.<ref>{{cite news |date=1960-11-14 |work=The Birmingham Post |author=<!--Not stated-->   |title=Princess Astrid to marry commoner |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/917531459/?match=1&terms=%22Princess%20Astrid%2C%20Mrs.%20Ferner%22 |page=13 |location=Birmingham, UK }}</ref><ref name="royalhouse"/> In September 1954, she took part in the ship tour organized by [[Frederica of Hanover|Queen Frederica]] and her husband King [[Paul of Greece]], which became known as the “[[Cruise of the Kings]]”, attended by over 100 royals from across Europe.

In January 1961 Astrid married commoner [[Johan Ferner|John Martin Ferner]] in Oslo. They met when she hired him to sail her yacht in a race.<ref>{{cite news |date=1960-11-14 |work=Daily Mirror |author=<!--Not stated-->   |title=Princess to marry Mr |url= https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19601114/221/0028ert |page=28 |location=London, UK }}</ref> The marriage was met by "bitter opposition" from the Norwegian Church as Ferner had been previously married. After the marriage, she became known as Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner<ref>{{cite news |date=1960-11-14 |work=The Birmingham Post |author=<!--Not stated-->   |title=Princess Astrid to marry commoner |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/917531459/?match=1&terms=%22Princess%20Astrid%2C%20Mrs.%20Ferner%22 |page=13 |location=Birmingham, UK }}</ref> and no longer got the annual endowment of 50,000 Norwegian crowns that she previously received as First Lady.<ref>{{cite book |date=1984 |last=Boulay de La Meurthe  |first=Laure |title=There are still kings : the ten royal families of Europe |publisher=C N Potter |location=New York, USA |page=143 |ISBN= 9780517548387 }}</ref>
They raised their family in [[Vinderen]]. She now lives in [[Nordmarka]], Oslo.

In 2002, the government granted Astrid an honorary pension in recognition of her efforts on behalf of Norway, both during and following her years as first lady.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=28755&sek=27292|title=Her Highness Princess Astrid|website=royalcourt.no}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/c28411/tale/vis.html?tid=27506&strukt_tid=28411 |title=Plaque commemorating the King's exile |website=Kongehuset.no |date=2005-10-27 |access-date=1 February 2013}}</ref>

In February 2012, Astrid celebrated her 80th birthday with a private dinner at the Royal Palace in Oslo.<ref>{{cite web|first=Nina |last=Berglund|date=12 February 2012 |url=http://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/02/12/palace-dinner-for-princess-80th/ |title=Palace dinner for princess' 80th : Views and News from Norway |website=Newsinenglish.no |access-date=1 February 2013}}</ref>

==Marriage and children==
Astrid married [[commoner]] Johan Martin Ferner in [[Asker]] Church on 12 January 1961.<ref>{{cite book |date=2013 |last=Wisdom |first=Rachel |title=A shopkeeper's daughter |publisher=Bloomington |location=Indiana, USA |page=86 |ISBN= 9781490815435 }}</ref> They had five children, seven grandchildren, and as of 2023, three great-grandchildren.<ref>{{cite web|title=Family Ferner|url=http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/magasinet/prinsesse-maatte-gaa-paa-sosialen-3704581.html|website=Tv2.no|date=11 February 2012 |access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>

* Cathrine Ferner (b. 22 July 1962, Oslo),<ref>{{Citation |title=Johan Martin Ferner |date=2023-08-22 |work=Store norske leksikon |url=https://snl.no/Johan_Martin_Ferner |access-date=2024-05-21 |language=no}}</ref> married 9 December 1989 in Oslo, Arild Johansen (b. 18 June 1961, Oslo), and has two children:
** Sebastian Ferner Johansen (b. 9 March 1990, Oslo), and his partner Ida Belinda Lundstrøm have two children: a daughter born in 2019, and a son born in 2021.
***Nicoline Johansen (born in 2019)
***Ferdinand Johansen (born in 2021)
** Madeleine Ferner Johansen (b. 7 March 1993, Oslo), married 17 October 2022 in Oslo, Ole-Aleksander Karlsen, and has one daughter, born in 2023.
***Hermine Karlsen (born in 2023)
* Benedikte Ferner (b. 27 September 1963, Oslo),<ref>{{Citation |title=Johan Martin Ferner |date=2023-08-22 |work=Store norske leksikon |url=https://snl.no/Johan_Martin_Ferner |access-date=2024-05-21 |language=no}}</ref> married firstly 30 April 1994 in Oslo (divorced 1998) Rolf Woods (b. 17 June 1963, Oslo), without issue, and married secondly on 2 December 2000 in Oslo and separated in 2002, Mons Einar Stange (b. 26 May 1962, Oslo), without issue.
* Alexander Ferner (b. 15 March 1965, Oslo),<ref>{{Citation |title=Johan Martin Ferner |date=2023-08-22 |work=Store norske leksikon |url=https://snl.no/Johan_Martin_Ferner |access-date=2024-05-21 |language=no}}</ref> married 27 July 1996 in [[Holmenkollen]] Kapell, Oslo, Margrét Gudmundsdóttir (b. 27 March 1966, [[Reykjavík]], [[Iceland]]), and has two children:
** Edward Ferner (b. 28 March 1996, [[Bærum]], Norway).
** Stella Ferner (b. 23 April 1998, [[Bærum]], Norway).
* Elisabeth Ferner (b. 30 March 1969, Oslo),<ref>{{Citation |title=Johan Martin Ferner |date=2023-08-22 |work=Store norske leksikon |url=https://snl.no/Johan_Martin_Ferner |access-date=2024-05-21 |language=no}}</ref> married 3 October 1992 in Oslo, Tom Folke Beckmann (b. 14 January 1963, Oslo), and has one son:
** Benjamin Ferner Beckmann (b. 25 April 1999, Oslo).
* Carl-Christian Ferner (b. 22 October 1972, Oslo),<ref>{{Citation |title=Johan Martin Ferner |date=2023-08-22 |work=Store norske leksikon |url=https://snl.no/Johan_Martin_Ferner |access-date=2024-05-21 |language=no}}</ref> married 4 October 2014 in Oslo, Anna-Stina Slattum<ref name=":0">Birth announcement in ''Aftenposten'' 25 February 1984 No. 95 p. 18 and Norwegian tax lists of 2001 and 2009.</ref> and they have two daughters together, born in 2018 and 2021,<ref>{{cite web |title=OHF-styret |url=http://www.ohf.no/default.asp?m=7556&s=8021 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516014418/http://www.ohf.no/default.asp?m=7556&s=8021 |archivedate=16 May 2012 |publisher=OSF}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark |url=https://heinbruins.nl/Christian.html |access-date=2025-03-05 |website=heinbruins.nl}}</ref>
**Fay Ferner, (born 10 July 2018)
**Fam Ferner, born 28 January 2021)

==Patronages==
Astrid is chair of the board of [[Märtha of Sweden#Crown Princess Märtha’s Memorial Fund|Crown Princess Märtha’s Memorial Fund]] which provides financial support to social and humanitarian initiatives carried out by non-governmental organisations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/c27294/artikkel/vis.html?tid=28759|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206051233/http://www.kongehuset.no/c27294/artikkel/vis.html?tid=28759|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 December 2007|title=kongehuset.no - Crown Princess Märtha's Memorial Fund|date=6 December 2007}}</ref>

She is a patron of several organisations with a focus on children and young people with [[dyslexia]], having the condition herself.<ref>{{cite news |date=2007-10-08 |work=The Bismarck Tribune |author=<!--Not stated-->   |title=2007 Scandinavian Hall of Fame Awards |url= https://www.newspapers.com/image/348052922/?match=1&terms=%22Princess%20Astrid%2C%20Mrs.%20Ferner%22 |page=8 |location=North Dakota, USA }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=28758 |title=rganisations under the patronage of Princess Astrid |author=<!--Not stated-->  |website=royalcourt.no |access-date=2025-06-05}}</ref>
* 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]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/c27293/artikkel/vis.html?tid=28758|title=Organisations under the patronage of Princess Astrid|website=Kongehuset.no|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>

==Titles, styles and honours==
{{infobox hrhstyles
| royal name=Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner
| image=[[File:Royal Monogram of Princess Astrid of Norway.svg|100px]]
| dipstyle=[[Highness|Her Highness]]
| offstyle=Your 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}}

Astrid has been awarded the following orders and decorations:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=34898&sek=34888|title=The Decorations of HH Princess Astrid|website=Royalcourt.no|access-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>

====National honours====
* {{flag|Norway}}: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of St. Olav|Order of Saint Olav]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Dame of the [[Royal Family Order of Haakon VII of Norway]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Dame of the [[Royal Family Order of King Olav V of Norway]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Dame of the [[Royal Family Order of King Harald V of Norway]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Recipient of the [[King Haakon VII 1905–1955 Jubilee Medal|King Haakon VII Golden Jubilee Medal]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway|Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of King Haakon VII]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway|King Olav V Silver Jubilee Medal]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway|King Olav V Commemorative Medal]]<ref name="OrdersOfPrincessAstrid">{{cite web|url=http://www.royalcourt.no/artikkel.html?tid=34898&sek=34888|title=The Decorations of HH Princess Astrid|website=Royalcourt.no|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>
* {{flag|Norway}}: Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway|Medal of the 100th Anniversary of the Birth of King Olav V]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Recipient of the [[Norwegian Royal House Centenary Medal|Royal House Centenary Medal]]
* {{flag|Norway}}: Recipient of the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Norway|King Harald V Silver Jubilee Medal]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/binfil/download2.php?tid=133159|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125143313/http://www.kongehuset.no/binfil/download2.php?tid=133159 |title=Tildeling av Kong Harald Vs jubileumsmedalje 1991-2016 |language=no |url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2016|date=25 January 2016}}</ref>
* {{flag|Norway}}: Recipient of the [[Holmenkollen Medal]]

====Foreign honours====
* {{flag|Belgium}}: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Crown (Belgium)|Order of the Crown]]
* {{flag|Finland}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the White Rose]]
* {{flag|France}}: Grand Cross of the [[National Order of Merit (France)|Order of Merit]]
* {{flag|Germany}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
* {{flag|Iceland}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Falcon]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://falkadb.forseti.is/orduskra/fal03.php?term=Astrid+prinsessa,+fr%C3%BA+Ferner&sub=Leita|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506132617/http://falkadb.forseti.is/orduskra/fal03.php?term=Astrid+prinsessa%2C+fr%C3%BA+Ferner&sub=Leita |title=Fálkaorðuhafar |language=no |url-status=dead|archive-date=6 May 2014|date=6 May 2014|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>
* {{flag|Jordan}}: Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Star of Jordan]]
* {{flag|Luxembourg}}: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Adolphe of Nassau]]
* {{flag|Netherlands}}: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the House of Orange]]
* {{flag|Portugal}}: Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit (Portugal)|Order of Merit]]
* {{flag|Spain}}: Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1982/05/27/pdfs/A14036-14036.pdf|title=Boletín Oficial del Estado|website=Boe.es|access-date=20 January 2018}}</ref>
* {{flag|Sweden}}: Member Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Polar Star|Royal Order of the Polar Star]]
* {{flag|Sweden}}: Recipient of [[Swedish Royal Jubilee Commemorative Medals|90th Birthday Medal of King Gustav V]]
* {{flag|Sweden}}: Recipient of [[Swedish Royal Jubilee Commemorative Medals|50th Birthday Medal of King Carl XVI]]
* {{flag|Thailand}}: Knight Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Chula Chom Klao]]
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}: Recipient of the [[Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal]]<ref>
{{London Gazette|issue=40020|page=6232|date=20 November 1953|supp=y}}</ref>

==Honorific eponym==
* [[Antarctica]]: [[Princess Astrid Coast]]

{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|1= 1. '''Princess Astrid of Norway'''
|2= 2. [[Olav V of Norway]]
|3= 3. [[Princess Märtha of Sweden]]
|4= 4. [[Haakon VII of Norway]]
|5= 5. [[Maud of Wales|Princess Maud of Wales]]
|6= 6. [[Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland]]
|7= 7. [[Princess Ingeborg of Denmark]]
|8= 8. [[Frederick VIII of Denmark]]
|9= 9. [[Louise of Sweden|Princess Louise of Sweden]]
|10= 10. [[Edward VII of the United Kingdom]]
|11= 11. [[Alexandra of Denmark|Princess Alexandra of Denmark]]
|12= 12. [[Oscar II of Sweden]]
|13= 13. [[Sophia of Nassau|Princess Sophia of Nassau]]
|14= 14. [[Frederick VIII of Denmark]] (= 8)
|15= 15. [[Louise of Sweden|Princess Louise of Sweden]] (= 9)
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
==External links==
* [https://www.royalcourt.no/seksjon.html?tid=28754&sek=27275 Website of the Royal House of Norway: Princess Astrid]

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[House of Glücksburg]]|12 February|1932|Living||}}
{{s-hon}}
{{s-bef|before={{flagicon|SUI}} [[Alfred Schläppi]] & <br /> [[Heinrich Schläppi]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[President of the Olympic Organizing Committee|President of Organizing Committee for Winter Olympic Games]]|with=[[Haakon VII of Norway]], [[Olaf Helset]], [[House of Glücksburg]]|years=[[1952 Winter Olympics|1952]]}}
{{s-aft|after= {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Enrico Colli]]}}
{{s-other|line}}
{{s-bef|before=Elizabeth Lorentzen Long}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Succession to the British throne]]<!--NO positions numbers after Chatto-->|creation=descended from [[Maud of Wales|Maud]], daughter of [[Edward VII]]}}
{{s-aft|after=Alexander Ferner}}
{{s-end}}
{{Norwegian princesses}}
{{Holmenkollen medal}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Thai sort key not needed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Astrid Of Norway, Princess}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Norwegian princesses]]
[[Category:House of Glücksburg (Norway)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)]]
[[Category:Grand Cross of the Ordre national du Mérite]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Falcon]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the House of Orange]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the House of Orange]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Crown (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Netherlands)]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Merit (Portugal)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Isabella the Catholic]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic]]
[[Category:Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star]]
[[Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Organising Committees for the Olympic Games]]
[[Category:Holmenkollen medalists]]
[[Category:Daughters of kings]]