The Norwegian Royal Court announced that Princess Ragnhild, Mrs Lorentzen died at her home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at 9.45am on 16 September 2012. She was born at the Royal Palace in Oslo, Norway, on 9 June 1930 as eldest child of King Olav V of Norway and his wife Märtha, born Princess of Sweden. On 15 May 1953 she married the Norwegian commoner Erling Sven Lorentzen at Asker. Afterwards she was named Princess Ragnhild, Mrs Lorentzen. She is survived by her husband, her three children Haakon, Ingeborg and Ragnhild, their partners, as well as by six grandchildren.
Picture: Sven Gj. Gjeruldsen / Det kongelige hoff
The funeral of Princess Ragnhild, Mrs Lorentzen will take place at the Palace Chapel in Oslo, Norway, on 28 September 2012. King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette Marit, Princess Märtha Louise and Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will attend together with about 120 guests. The service will be led by Bishop Ole Christian Kvarme and Provost Olav Dag Hauge. Princess Ragnhild will be buried at Asker Church.
Already on 20 September a service will be held at Christ Church, the Anglican Church at Rio de Janeiro (5pm). On 22 September the coffin will arrive at Gardermoen airport, Oslo. Her siblings King Harald V and Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner will be present.
Early this month I bought some very cute postcards of Princess Ragnhild of Norway and her younger sister Princess Astrid on a bookmarket here in town. I had no idea that just two weeks later Ragnhild would die.
