Introducing The Royal Dispatch!

After a crazy busy couple of months in the royal-watching community, I have decided to start a separate account just for European royal news, specifically focusing on the British, Norwegian, and Danish families. 

A bit about me: I am an independent writer who loves researching royal news, following events, and sharing stories about Europe’s monarchies. I would not call myself an expert, but I have always found royal life fascinating and love learning new things. There is so much history, tradition, and personal drama behind these families that there is always something worth talking about. 

It still feels a bit wild to me how covering something like a state funeral can be so overwhelming and fascinating at the same time. I recently covered King Harald V’s funeral, and honestly, it was exhausting. There was so much information and detail to track, but it reminded me why I love following these families in the first place. 

These last few months covering the King’s failing health and funeral made me realize I wanted a dedicated space to focus on the news, provide context, and discuss the events shaping Europe’s monarchies. 

My goal is to keep things informative, approachable, and fun, whether you have followed royals for years or are just curious. I am still learning and do not claim to know everything, but I hope to build something that reflects my genuine interest in these institutions and the stories behind them. 

Thanks to everyone who has followed my royal-watching journey so far. I am excited to see where this new chapter goes, and I hope you will join me.

Please find the link to my new account below.

The Royal Dispatch

Royal Court Reveals Plans Following the End of Official Mourning

A few days ago, the Norwegian Royal Court released details outlining the plans for the working members of the Royal Family following the conclusion of the official period of mourning for the late King Harald V.

His Majesty King Haakon VIII will undertake a series of thematic visits focusing on key areas of Norwegian society, including democracy, nature and the environment, business, defence and inclusion. Throughout the autumn and winter, the King will also host meetings with groups representing different sectors of society.

The Royal Court confirmed that no major official tours or state visits are planned for the autumn and winter months. Meanwhile, work on organisational changes following the accession to the throne will require time to be devoted to internal processes.

Her Majesty Queen Mette-Marit remains in rehabilitation following her lung transplant and is not expected to resume an official programme until next summer.

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra will continue to prioritise her studies in the coming months, while attending selected official engagements before returning to Australia in February to continue her education.

Queen Sonja, meanwhile, will continue to undertake official engagements representing the Royal House, maintaining her public duties during this period of transition.

Prince Sverre Magnus is currently based in Lisbon, Portugal, where he is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Business and Management at Forward College.

Daisy Isn’t Done Yet!

To mark ALT for damerne’s 80th anniversary, a special Honorary Award has been presented to Her Majesty Queen Margrethe.

Her Majesty was unable to attend the magazine’s anniversary celebration at the Opera on Saturday, so the award was instead presented to her during an audience at Fredensborg Palace on September 24.

Editor-in-Chief Heidi Frederikke Sigdal brought along weekly issues of ALT for damerne from across its 80-year history, which Queen Margrethe looked through with great interest.

During the reception, artist and costume designer Nikoline Liv Andersen also presented the original artwork Queen Margrethe, which features on the cover of the magazine’s 80th anniversary issue.

In the tribute accompanying the award, Sigdal highlighted Queen Margrethe’s long relationship with the magazine and praised the way she carried out her role as Denmark’s monarch, combining “respect, new thinking and her very own style of the monarchy.”

The award was formally celebrated at Saturday’s anniversary event, where ALT for damerne marked eight decades of the magazine’s history.

Queen Margrethe to Miss Another Engagement Amid Continued Recovery

Queen Margrethe will not attend a concert marking the 300th anniversary of Fredensborg Palace on 7 October, the Danish Royal House has confirmed.

Her Majesty was already expected to miss the Opening of the Danish Parliament on 6 October. The latest announcement means Queen Margrethe will remain absent from two significant events in the Danish royal calendar.

In May, Queen Margrethe was admitted to Rigshospitalet with angina and subsequently underwent a balloon angioplasty of a coronary artery. Later that month, she was admitted again after a CT scan revealed a significant blood collection in the hip region, which was attributed to an earlier fall. She underwent a minor procedure and was discharged from hospital on 29 May, returning to Fredensborg Palace.

Her Majesty was admitted to Rigshospitalet again on 6 September following an episode of illness. Doctors found a new blood collection in the hip region and mild dehydration, both of which were treated. The Royal House said at the time that Queen Margrethe was in good spirits and doing well under the circumstances.

She was discharged on 10 September and returned to Fredensborg Palace, where she has continued her recovery.

There has been no indication of when Queen Margrethe will resume her public programme. For now, Her Majesty is understood to be taking things quietly at Fredensborg Palace and allowing herself time to recover.

Looking Back on August 28: The Death of King Harald V

September 28 marks one month since King Harald V took his final breath at the National Hospital in Oslo.

On August 27, following days of declining health, the Royal Court announced that the King’s condition had deteriorated significantly and was considered serious. Members of his immediate family rushed to be by his bedside.

Throughout the day, concerns grew as news of the King’s failing health spread. Later that evening, a visibly emotional Queen Sonja left the hospital after spending nearly ten hours there. Crown Prince Haakon, as he was then known, arrived at the hospital with Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Later that night, the Crown Princess left the hospital, leaving the Crown Prince by his father’s side.

It is safe to say that Crown Prince Haakon was by his father’s side when he took his final breath at 6:35 a.m. on August 28.

Shortly after his death, members of the Norwegian Royal Family arrived at the hospital. From that moment, the events that followed became history.

Princess Astrid of Norway: A Life of Service and Devotion

Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner, died on September 11, 2026, at Rikshospitalet in Oslo at the age of 94. Her funeral was held yesterday, September 23, at Ris Church. 

Princess Astrid was born on February 12, 1932, the second child of King Olav V and Crown Princess Märtha. She was the middle child, between Princess Ragnhild and the future King Harald V.

Her life was shaped by some of the most significant moments in modern Norwegian history. As a young girl, she experienced the Second World War and the exile of the Norwegian Royal Family. She later witnessed her father become King, her brother become Crown Prince and eventually King. 

At her funeral, Norway’s Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg reflected on the close bond between Princess Astrid and her younger brother, King Harald, saying, “King Harald was Princess Astrid’s little brother. And you are a little brother all your life. Astrid looked after Harald. And she did that until the end.”

Following the death of her mother, Crown Princess Märtha, in 1954, Princess Astrid stepped into an important public role. She effectively became Norway's First Lady, accompanying her father at official engagements and representing the Royal Family until her brother Harald's marriage to Sonja Haraldsen in 1968.

She married Johan Ferner in 1961 at Asker Church and became known as Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner. The couple went on to have five children and remained married until Johan's death in 2015.

Although Princess Astrid no longer had an official public role following her brother's marriage, she remained a constant presence within the Norwegian Royal Family. Over the decades, she became a link between generations — someone who personally remembered King Haakon VII and Queen Maud while also seeing her nieces and nephews grow into the next generation of the monarchy.

Astrid was the last surviving sibling of King Harald V. She attended her brother’s funeral at Oslo Cathedral on September 9, just two days before her own death. Her appearance at the funeral would ultimately become her final public appearance. Princess Astrid passed away just 14 days and six hours after her brother. 

Princess Astrid, 1932–2026.

Queen Margrethe Hospitalized Again; Will Miss King Harald V’s Funeral

While things have gone somewhat quiet in Norway for now, with King Harald V's funeral taking place on Wednesday, it feels appropriate to share that Queen Margrethe has been hospitalized at Rigshospitalet after feeling unwell.

Her Majesty, 86, is reported to be in good spirits and was admitted after suffering from dehydration. During her hospitalization, doctors discovered a significant collection of blood in the hip region.

You may remember that Queen Margrethe was admitted to hospital in May with a similar issue. At the time, it was reported that she had suffered a fall, which resulted in the significant collection of blood in the hip region. Given the circumstances, it is possible that she may have fallen again, although this has not been confirmed by the Danish Royal Court.

The Danish Royal Court has confirmed that Queen Margrethe will unfortunately miss the funeral of King Harald V in Oslo on Wednesday. She is expected to remain hospitalized throughout the week for treatment and observation.

This marks Queen Margrethe's third admission to Rigshospitalet this year.