In Oslo, the Communications Director of the Royal Court of Norway, Ms. Guri Varpe, confirmed to the Norwegian public broadcaster Norsk rikskringkasting (NRK) this afternoon that Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, “has had pneumonia.”
The 94-year-old Princess, the eldest daughter of the late King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha of Norway, is now “on the road to recovery,” according to Ms. Varpe.
Reports that the Princess had been hospitalized first emerged on Friday, when the Norwegian tabloid Se og Hør published photographs of Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway visiting her in hospital, prior to any official statement regarding her condition.
Meanwhile, Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway have begun their Easter holiday, travelling by train to Prinsehytta, their cabin in Sikkilsdalen.
Photos courtesy of Det Kongelige Hoff/ Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB
Photos courtesy of Det Kongelige Hoff/ Ole Berg-Rusten/NTB
In Oslo, Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway hosted an incoming state visit from Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians at the Royal Palace, marking the first state visit between the two kingdoms in nearly three decades.
The visit, which includes engagements in Oslo and Stavanger, is centered on cooperation in energy, defense, and broader multilateral priorities. Norway remains a key energy supplier to Belgium, and both countries maintain close coordination as NATO allies.
Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians were formally welcomed at the Royal Palace with full state honours, including the playing of national anthems, an inspection of the King’s Guard of Honor, and the presentation of official delegations.
Once inside the Royal Palace, Their Majesties held a private meeting, described by the Royal Court as a “tête-à-tête,” ahead of the exchange of gifts.
Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway appeared during the indoor program at the Royal Palace, joining Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway for official photographs. Her attendance had not been listed in the official press release from the Royal Court of Norway.
The appearance comes days after an interview broadcast by NRK (Norsk rikskringkasting) that prompted widespread criticism in Norway, in which the Crown Princess addressed her past associations with Jeffrey Epstein.
Later in the day, Their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians, accompanied by the Crown Prince of Norway, laid a wreath at the National Monument at Akershus Fortress in tribute to those who lost their lives during the Second World War.
A state banquet hosted by Their Majesties the King and Queen of Norway is scheduled to take place at the Royal Palace this evening, bringing together members of the Belgian delegation and representatives of Norwegian public life.
Portrait courtesy of Kimm Saatvedt/ Det Kongelige Hoff
The Royal Court of Norway announced that His Majesty King Harald V of Norway was admitted this evening to the Hospital Universitario Hospiten Sur in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands.
The 89-year-old King is being treated for an infection and dehydration. His condition is described as good under the circumstances.
The Royal Court further stated that the King’s personal physician will travel to Tenerife to assist the local medical team.
The King and Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway are currently on a private holiday on the island of Tenerife during their annual winter break.
An update on the King’s health will be provided on Wednesday, February 25, after the personal physician has assessed the situation.
This is the second hospitalization of the King while on private holiday in recent years. In February 2024, while Their Majesties were vacationing on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia, the King was admitted to hospital after developing a serious infection.
During that hospitalization, he received a temporary pacemaker due to a low heart rate. The device was implanted to stabilize his condition and ensure a safer return to Norway while he recovered from the infection.
Their Majesties were subsequently medically evacuated to Norway aboard Scandinavian Airlines flight SK7186. The aircraft was a Boeing 737-783 configured for emergency medical evacuation.
On the morning of Saturday, June 25, 2022, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway released a statement regarding the tragic shootings in central Oslo last evening.
“My family and I are horrified by the night’s shooting tragedy in central Oslo, where two people were killed and many injured. We sympathize with all relatives and affected and send warm thoughts to all who are now scared, restless, and in grief.
We must stand together to defend our values: Freedom, diversity and respect for each other. We must continue to stand up for all people to feel safe.
Now we have to take good care of each other.
Harald R”
Last evening, a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin, who was believed to be a radicalized Islamist with a history of mental illness, opened fire outside three locations in central Oslo, including the nightclub, London Pub, killing two people and injuring twenty-one. The suspect has been arrested and detained.
This morning the Norwegian Security Service PST said they, “…became aware of the suspect in 2015 and later grew concerned he had become radicalized and was part of an unspecified Islamist network.” The PST also announced that the suspect has been charged with terrorism.
On Friday, March 18, 2022, His Majesty King Harald V of Norway and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway visited the UDI Emergency Accommodation Center for Ukrainian refugees at the Scandic Hotel Helsfyr in Oslo.
According to the Norwegian royal court, His Majesty and The Crown Prince toured the:
“…hotel and how it was able to adapt to the current situation. Several of the hotel’s conference rooms and common areas have been converted into, among other things, a health station, playroom, and dressing room. In the playroom, children can, among other things, draw, play and play table tennis. The Norwegian Red Cross is among the organizations present with volunteers at the reception.”
During their visit, King Harald V and Crown Prince Haakon met with various Ukrainian refugees who told their stories about how they fled their homeland.
The Royal Correspondent 