Princess Astrid Age, Husband, Kids: What We Know About Her Private World

Let’s be honest: when you hear “European princess,” your brain probably conjures up a tiara, a castle, and maybe a swan or two. But Norway’s Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, is here to flip that fairy tale on its head. She’s the cool, slightly mysterious aunt of the royal family, and her private world is like a cozy mystery novel you actually want to read. Buckle up, because we’re about to peek behind the velvet curtain.

Okay, So How Old Is She Really?

Princess Astrid was born on February 12, 1932. Do the math—that makes her a staggering 93 years old in 2025. She’s older than sliced bread (which was invented in 1928, but don’t tell her that).

She’s the younger sister of the late King Harald V of Norway, which means she’s been a royal since the days of black-and-white TV. If you think you’re tired, imagine being a princess for nine decades. She probably has “royal fatigue” written into her contract.

The Husband: A Love Story That Would Make Rom-Coms Jealous

Meet Johan Martin Ferner, her husband. He was a successful businessman and former Olympic sailor—yes, an actual Olympian who sailed boats for Norway in the 1952 Helsinki Games. He won a silver medal, which is basically a fancy way of saying he was really good at going in circles on water.

But here’s the plot twist: Johan was a commoner. He wasn’t a prince, a duke, or a knight wearing shiny armor. He was just a guy with a boat and a dream. Astrid fell for him anyway, and they got married in 1961. The Norwegian press probably went, “But where’s the tiara?!” while Astrid just shrugged and said, “I like boats.”

Johan passed away in 2015 at age 88, but their marriage lasted 54 years. That’s longer than most Hollywood marriages last before the first commercial break.

63 Laura Kuhn Photos & High Res Pictures - Getty Images

The Kids: A Miniature Royal Army (Sort Of)

Astrid and Johan had five children. Yes, five. That’s a whole soccer team, minus the goalie. Their names are Cathrine, Benedikte, Alexander, Elisabeth, and Carl-Christian. And no, you don’t need to memorize that for a test—just know they’re all tall, blonde, and probably very polite.

The kids grew up mostly out of the spotlight, which is a royal miracle. No scandals, no tabloid fiascos, no “I’m dating a wizard from Instagram” nonsense. They’re just normal Norwegians with really good manners and possibly a secret stash of royal cookies.

Today, Astrid has 10 grandchildren. That’s enough to field two soccer teams. Imagine the chaos at family Christmas—five kids, 10 grandkids, and one 93-year-old princess trying to decide who gets the last piece of lefse (Norwegian flatbread). It’s a battlefield covered in wool sweaters.

Princess Astrid of Norway, 94, Hospitalized amid Pneumonia Recovery

Her “Private World” (A.K.A. The Mystery Zone)

Princess Astrid is famously private. She doesn’t do reality shows, she doesn’t tweet, and she probably thinks a selfie is a type of Scandinavian fish. Her private world is so secret, it makes Area 51 look like an open house.

She lives in a modest home in Oslo, not a giant castle. I’m not saying she’s cheap, but I bet she clips coupons from the royal newsletter. Rumor has it she enjoys painting, gardening, and drinking tea while reading books about ships. Because of course she does—her husband was a sailor!

Here’s a surprising fact: she used to drive her own car. In Norway. In winter. A princess driving in the snow? That’s like a penguin teaching yoga—unexpected, but totally awesome.

50 Princess Astrid Of Belgium 2003 Photos & High Res Pictures - Getty

Did She Almost Become Queen?

Fun history lesson: Astrid’s brother, King Harald, only became king because Norway changed its constitution in 1990 to allow a woman to inherit the throne. Before that, if Harald had no sons, Astrid could have been queen! But then her nephew Haakon was born, and she was demoted to “cool aunt” status. She probably sighed, took a sip of coffee, and said, “Fine, more time for painting, then.”

She still acts as a stand-in royal at events when other family members are busy. Think of her as the spare tire of the monarchy—always ready, slightly dusty, but perfectly functional.

What We Don’t Know (But Desperately Want To)

Does she have a secret TikTok account under the name @PrincessPainter67? Probably not, but I’d watch her lip-sync to ABBA. Does she binge-watch The Crown and scream at the inaccuracies? Definitely. In her private world, she’s probably the world’s most polite critic: “I say, that accent is simply appalling. More tea, please.”

Belgian Prince Lorenz and Princess Astrid pose with their children

She also owns a fabulous collection of tiaras, but she rarely wears them. I imagine her closet looks like a dragon’s hoard, but she just wears sweatpants and a cardigan. “Oh, this old thing? It’s just a diamond tiara. Let me move it—I need to find my slippers.”

One thing is clear: Princess Astrid is the unshakeable anchor of the Norwegian royal family. She’s watched five kings and queens, two world wars, and the invention of the microwave. She’s earned her privacy, her tea breaks, and her right to have 10 grandkids who call her “Mormor” (Norwegian for grandma).

So next time you see a photo of a dignified, silver-haired princess at a state dinner, just remember: behind that elegant smile is a woman who probably out-kayaked the paparazzi in the 1950s. And that, my friends, is royalty worth knowing.