Norway’s royals have given an update after one of the most
popular members of the family was admitted to hospital.
Princess Astrid, 94, was taken to the Rikshospitalet in Oslo on
March 27 with her brother, King Harald, 89, seen visiting soon
afterwards.
The princess hadn’t been seen in public for several weeks and
missed the State Visit by the King and Queen of the Belgians.
Now, Norway’s royals have shared an update on Astrid’s health
after concerns grew.
The royal court said the princess had contracted pneumonia but
was now on the road to recovery.
It’s expected that she will continue her recuperation at home
once doctors are satisfied she is well enough to leave
hospital.
Princess Astrid isrecovering after contracting pneumonia
( Liv Anette Luane, The Royal Court)
Princess Astrid is the only remaining sister of King Harald and
still carries out a number of royal engagements every year. She is
always seen at big events, like State Visits, so her absence when
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in Oslo was notable.
The princess was, for over ten years, the ”first lady” of
Norway. When her father, King Olav, took the throne in 1957, the
then 25 year old Astrid accompanied him on all major engagements as
he was widowed. Her older sister, Princess Ragnhild, had moved to
Brazil with her husband before their father’s accession.
The role of ”first lady” of the Norwegian court passed to the
now Queen Sonja when she married Harald in 1968.
Since Harald’s accession as King of Norway in 1991, Princess
Astrid has been one of his staunchest supporters.
Norway’s royals are currently at the centre of several
controversies involving Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wife of the
heir to the throne, Crown Prince Haakon. She has been criticised
after details of her extensive links with convicted sex offender,
Jeffrey Epstein, became public knowledge with the release of the
Epstein files. Her son from a previous relationship, Marius Borg
Hoiby, is currently on trial for rape, accusations he denies.
King Harald and Queen Sonja remain popular but both have
experienced health issues in the past months.