King Harald’s older sister Princess Astrid dies aged 94 just two days after attending late Norway monarch’s funeral

KING HARALD’S older sister Princess Astrid has died aged 94, just two days after attending the late Norway King’s funeral.

In a statement the palace said: “His Majesty the King has received with great sadness the news that Princess Astrid has passed away.”

Flags will be thrown at half mast from the palace balcony to commemorate the late princess, King Haakon announced.

The news comes just two days after Princess Astrid attended her late brother’s funeral.

Sitting in a packed Oslo Cathedral, she said goodbye to her little brother and thanked him for “everything we’ve had together”.

She was pictured sitting by the window at the Palace, looking out at a sea of flowers and grieving Norwegians.

King Harald was Europe’s oldest living monarch and had been on the throne since 1991 but was put on royal “sick leave” in August after falling ill with a blood disorder.

He passed away on August 28, at the age of 89.

The palace confirmed his son as King Haakon VIII after he served as regent while Harald was on sick leave.

In a tribute to his late aunt, King Haakon described the Princess as “committed” with an “infectious spirit”.

A statement read: “Already at the age of 22, she had to step into the role of first lady when my grandmother, Crown Princess Märtha, passed away.

“In her work, Princess Astrid was always particularly concerned with care and inclusion for the most vulnerable in society.”

King Haakon also described the princesses endless support for King Harald and the family.

“We learned a lot from her, and she was not afraid to speak up. Her passing is a great loss for us. We will miss her”, he said.

In her last official assignment for the royal house, Princess Astrid visited Dyslexia Norway as the charity celebrated its 50th anniversary in Oslo in May.

Princess Astrid served four kings throughout her life.

First her grandfather King Haakon, then her father King Olav, her younger brother King Harald and her nephew King Haakon VIII.

King Harald previously described his sister as “boundlessly loyal”.

Before his death, King Harald was still technically in the line of succession to the British Royal Family.

He was the great-grandson of Edward VII and his godparents included Queen Mary and her son George VI – who were the late Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother and father.

Following the news of his cousin’s death, King Charles paid an emotional tribute.

In a statement released by Buckingham Palace, the King said: “It is with the most profound sadness that my wife and I have learned of the death of my dear cousin, King Harald V of Norway.

“For 35 years, King Harald served his people with unwavering dedication, guiding Norway through times of great change with warmth and humility.

“As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades.”

King Harald had been married to Queen Sonja for almost 60 years with the royal couple making it their mission to connect more with both the public and the media.

The couple shared two children, Princess Märtha Louise and new King Haakon.