Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

Princess Astrid
Born	12 February 1932 Villa Solbakken, Oslo, Norway
Spouse	Johan Martin Ferner (m. 1961; his death 2015)
Issue	Cathrine Ferner Benedikte Ferner Alexander Ferner Elisabeth Ferner Carl-Christian Ferner
Full name Astrid Maud Ingeborg
House	Glücksburg
Father	Olav V of Norway
Mother	Princess Märtha of Sweden

Princess Astrid Maud Ingeborg, Mrs. Ferner (born 12 February 1932, in Oslo, Norway) is the second daughter of King Olav V of Norway (1903–1991) and his wife, Princess Märtha of Sweden (1901–1954). She is the older sister of King Harald V of Norway (born 1937) and younger sister of Princess Ragnhild of Norway (1930–2012).

As she is a great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, she is in the line of succession to the British throne. She is a second cousin to Elizabeth II and a maternal first cousin once removed of King Philippe of Belgium .

Biography

Princess Astrid was christened in the Palace Chapel on 31 March 1932 and 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 of Belgium; Elizabeth, Duchess of York; Princess Thyra of Denmark; Prince Eugen of Sweden; and Prince George of the United Kingdom. The Princess grew up on the royal estate of Skaugum in Asker and was privately educated. 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.^[1]

After the war, the Princess studied economics and political history at Oxford.

From her mother's death in April 1954 until her brother's marriage in August 1968, Princess Astrid was the First Lady of Norway, working side-by-side with her father on all representation duties, including State Visits.

Princess Astrid raised her family in Vinderen; she now lives in Nordmarka, Oslo. Her hobbies include knitting, embroidery, reading and painting porcelain.

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.^[2]

In February 2012, Princess Astrid celebrated her 80th birthday with a private dinner at the Royal Palace in Oslo.^[3]

Marriage and children

The Princess married divorced commoner Johan Martin Ferner (22 July 1927—24 January 2015), a sailor, Olympic medalist and businessman in Asker on 12 January 1961.^[4] The wedding was conducted by Bishop Arne Fjellbu of Nidaros. ^[5] The couple had four young attendants: the bride’s niece and nephew Ingeborg and Haakon Lorentzen, and the bridegroom’s nieces Inger and Ellen Ferner.

The couple have five children:^[6]

• Cathrine Ferner (b. 22 July 1962, Oslo), 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).
  • Madeleine Ferner Johansen (b. 7 March 1993, Oslo).
• Benedikte Ferner (b. 27 September 1963, Oslo), married, firstly 30 April 1994 in Oslo (divorced 1998), Rolf Woods (b. 17 June 1963, Oslo), without issue; married, secondly, on 2 December 2000, in Oslo (separated 2002), Mons Einar Stange (b. 26 May 1962, Oslo), without issue.
• Alexander Ferner (b. 15 March 1965, Oslo), married 27 July 1996, Holmenkollen Kapell, near 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), married 3 October 1992 in Oslo, Tom Folke Beckmann (b. 1963, Oslo), and has one son:
  • Benjamin Ferner Beckmann (b. 25 April 1999, Oslo).
• Carl-Christian Ferner (b. 22 October 1972, Oslo), married 4 October 2014 in Oslo, Anna-Stina Slattum (b. ca 1984). He works for the family business, Ferner Jacobsen AS.^[7]

Patronages

Princess Astrid is chair of the board of Crown Princess Märtha’s Memorial Fund which provides financial support to social and humanitarian initiatives carried out by non-governmental organisations.^[8]

The Princess is a patron of several organizations and participates in their activities with great interest. She has been particularly involved in work for children and young people with dyslexia, herself having had a hard time during her childhood and youth due to that condition.

• 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^[9]

Titles, styles, and honours

Styles of Princess Astrid of Norway
Reference style	Her Highness
Spoken style	Your Highness
Alternative style	Ma'am

See also List of honours of the Norwegian Royal Family by country

Titles and styles

• 12 February 1932 - 12 January 1961: Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Norway
• 12 January 1961 - present: Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

Honours

A 580,000 km² area in Antarctica is named Princess Astrid Coast in her honour.

• Grand Cross with Collar of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1956)
• The Royal House Centenary Medal
• Haakon VIIs Jubilee Medal 1905–1955
• Haakon VIIs Centenary Medal
• Olav Vs Commemorative Medal of 30. January 1991
• Olav Vs Jubilee Medal 1957-1982
• Olav Vs Centenary Medal
• Harald V's Silver Jubilee Medal
• Royal Family Order of King Haakon VII of Norway
• Royal Family Order of King Olav V of Norway
• Royal Family Order of King Harald V of Norway
• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star
• King Gustaf Vs 90th Birthday Medal
• King Carl XVI Gustaf's 50th Birthday Medal
• Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
• Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (26/10/1993) ° ^[10]
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Jordan (Al-Kawkab Al Urdoni)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
• Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (12/04/1982) ° ^[11]
• Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao ^[12]

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner

16. Christian IX of Denmark               8. Frederick VIII of Denmark                       17. Louise of Hesse-Kassel               4. Haakon VII of Norway                             18. Charles XV of Sweden               9. Louise of Sweden                       19. Louise of the Netherlands               2. Olav V of Norway                                   20. Albert, Prince Consort               10. Edward VII of the United Kingdom                       21. Victoria of the United Kingdom               5. Maud of Wales                             22. Christian IX of Denmark (= 16)               11. Alexandra of Denmark                       23. Louise of Hesse-Kassel (= 17)               1. Princess Astrid of Norway                                         24. Oscar I of Sweden               12. Oscar II of Sweden                       25. Josephine of Leuchtenberg               6. Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland                             26. William, Duke of Nassau               13. Sophie of Nassau                       27. Princess Pauline of Württemberg               3. Märtha of Sweden                                   28. Christian IX of Denmark (= 16)               14. Frederick VIII of Denmark (= 8)                       29. Louise of Hesse-Kassel (= 17)               7. Princess Ingeborg of Denmark                             30. Charles XV of Sweden (= 18)               15. Louise of Sweden (= 9)                       31. Louise of the Netherlands (= 19)

References

1. "Her Highness Princess Astrid". kongehuset.no. Retrieved February 2013.
2. "Plaque commemorating the King's exile". kongehuset.no. 2005-10-27. Retrieved February 2013.
3. Berglund, Nina (12 February 2012). "Palace dinner for princess’ 80th : Views and News from Norway". Newsinenglish.no. Retrieved February 2013.
4. Lundy, Darryl. "p. 10161 § 101603". The Peerage. External link in |publisher= (help)
5. Koenig, Marlene Eilers. "Princess Astrid marries divorced commoner".
6. "Family Ferner". TV2.
7. "OHF-styret". OSF.
8. Royal House website on Crown Princess Märtha's Memorial Fund. Retrieved 6 November 2007
9. Royal House web page on the Princess' patronages Retrieved 6 November 2007
10. Iceland
11. Boletín Oficial del Estado
12. Royal House web page on Princess Astrid's decorations (Norwegian) Retrieved 5 November 2007

External links

• Website of the Royal House of Norway: Princess Astrid