Funeral service for Erling Sven Lorentzen

The funeral service for the industrialist Erling Sven Lorentzen, widower of Princess Ragnhild, took place today at Asker Church at noon. Lorentzen died on 9 March 2021, 98 years old. Asker church is where Erling Lorentzen married Princess Ragnhild in 1953.

Due to the pandemic, the number of people attending the funeral was limited to 30 only. From the Norwegian royal family came King Harald, who still is on sick leave following his operation in January, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Märtha Louise and Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner. All the Ferner children were also present.

Erling Lorentzen's eldest son Haakon Lorentzen and his family decided not to travel from Brazil because  the situation there due to the pandemic is so bad at the moment. They had to follow the service on Internet instead. Lorentzen's daughters Ingeborg Lorentzen Ribeiro and Ragnhild Lorentzen Long and their husbands Paulo Ribeiro and Aaron Long have lived in Norweay since last year and could therefore attend. In addition, Ingeborg's daughter Victoria, her husband Felipe Falcão and their son Frederik had travelled from London to say their last farewell. There were also other members of the Lorentzen family present, in addition to Lorentzen's partner Ebba Løvenskiold, Princess Ragnhild's close friend Bitten Giæver-Krogh, who was Ragnhild's maid-of-honor at the wedding in 1953 and Erling Lorentzen's secretary Randi Færden. The only representative of the official Norway was Chief of Defence Eirik Kristoffersen, who held a speech in English where he among others talked about Lorentzen's war effort.

Anne Netland, who is Sjømannskirken - Norwegian Church Abroad's ambulatory pastor in Latin America and knows the Lorentzen family well from her time in Branzil, officiated the service. She spoke both Norwegian and Portugese during the service. As Haakon Lorentzen was absent, his speech was read by his cousin Einar Lie, son of Ingjerd Ragna Lie, née Lorentzen (1914–1999) and Ragnar Holm Lie (1912–1997). Brazil's Ambassador to Norway,  George Monteiro Prata, was meant to attend, but was in quarentine, so his speech was read in Portuguese by Lorentzen's son-in-law, Paulo Ribeiro. Ribeiro also said a few words on his on behalf, this time in Norwegian. 

After the service, the coffin, which was draped in the national flags of Norway and Brazil, were carried out to the grave by Aaron Long, Felipe Falcão, Einar Lie, Jan Lorentzen, Crown Prince Haakon and Alexander Ferner. Erling Lorentzen was then laid to rest next to the grave of Princess Ragnhild, who died in 2012. The headstone had been made ready in advance with Erling S. Lorentzen's name, date of birth and date of death inscribed.

The funeral service was broadcast on the Norwegian TV2 with Trond Norén Isaksen as commentator and who as always did an excellent job.

Funeral service for Erling Sven Lorentzen

The death announcement for Erling Sven Lorentzen, who died on 9 March 2021, 98 years old, was published in Aftenposten and Vareminnesider.no today. The announcement was signed by Lorentzen's 3 children, their spouses, his six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

© 2013 Dag Trygsland Hoelseth.

The funeral service for the industrialist Erling Sven Lorentzen, who was married to Princess Ragnhild from 1953 until her death in 2012, will take place at Asker Church on Monday 22 March 2021 at noon. Only those invited will be allowed to attend. Others will be able to watch the broadcast via Erling Lorentzen's memorial page at Jolstad.no. Lorentzen will be interred next to his wife at Asker kirkegård (Asker Cemetery).

Funeral service for Ari Behn

Norway took yesterday farewell with the author and artist Ari Behn, who died on Christmas Day, 47 years old. The funeral service took place at Oslo domkirke (Oslo Cathedral). Behn's family had chosen the large cathedral because so many friends wanted to attend. About 600 seats were made available for the public.

King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Haakon, Princess Märtha Louise and her daughters Maud Angelica, Leah Isadora and Emma Tallulah Behn were present together with Princess Astrid, Mrs. Ferner. Crown Princess Mette-Marit's son Marius Borg Høiby and his live-in partner as well as the Crown Princess's mother Marit Tjessem also attended. From Sweden came Prince Daniel, while another friend of Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn, Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, also attended.

The Bjørshol and Behn families, Behn's girlfriend Ebba and her mother and many, many friends were present for the service. From the official Norway came Storting president Tone Wilhelmsen Trøen, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Toril Marie Øie  Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Minister of Finance Siv Jensen, Minister of Petroleum and Energy Sylvia Listhaug, Minister of Culture Trine Skei Grande and Minister of Children and Families Kjell Ingolf Ropstad. Labour Party leader Jonas Gahr Støre and former Prime Minister and now Secretary-General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, were also present.

The service was officiated by the Bishop of Oslo, Kari Veiteberg. Her speech (in Norwegian) can be read here. Eulogies were delivered by Ari Behn's parents Marianne Solberg Behn and Olav Bjørshol, Behn's siblings as well as his eldest daughter Maud Angelica. Bible texts were read by vicar Elisabeth Thorsen and the actors Kåre Conradi and Dennis Storhøi. Conradi was a good friend of Behn and was his best man at the royal wedding in 2002. Music was provided by Oslo Cathedral organist Kåre Nordstoga and the Oslo Cathedral Choir. Sigvart Dagsland performed «Alt eg såg» («Everything I Saw») while the violinist Mari Samuelsen played Ennio Morricone’s «Gabriel’s Oboe». Pall-bearers were Ari Behn’s father Olav Bjørshol, brother Espen Bjørshol Solberg, brother-in-law Christian Udnæs, Crown Prince Haakon, and nephews Ask and Isak Rafael Bjørshol.

It was a very moving service and the eulogies were almost unbearable to listen to. Maud Angelica's speech was strong and inpressive and will be remembered for a long time. She shared good memories about her father, but also appealed to everyone who struggled in their lives to seek help: «There is always a way out. Even if it doesn’t feel that way. There are people out there who can and will help. Ask for help. Asking shows strength, not weakness.»

Outside the cathedral the families and closest friends waited while the car carrying the casket drove away.  Information about Behn's last resting place has as far as I know not been yet been revealed. But as Behn resided in Lommedalen, where also his daughter live, it is quite possible that the urn will be interred at Lommedalen Cemetery in Bærum.

Yesterday evening Ari Behn's former wife Princess Märtha Louise wrote the following words on her Instagram account (also published at Kongehuset.no):

We should have been together at Christmas and celebrated. Everyone had looked forward to it.

And we are so endlessly sad and sorry for the loss of you, because you were the girls' warm, funny, wise and good daddy who they miss so much. We miss the funny comments, your nice perspectives, the poetic note, the over-whelming compliments, the great love you had for them. Today you would have been so proud of them. But now there will be an empty space where you were, as for our girls no-one can ever replace you. And it pains to think about that you wanted to leave the world. We are all in deep mourning and pain.

An invisible illness took more and more control over you, because that is the way it is when the mental health fails. Over a long time we saw that you gradually disappeared, but we were firm in the belief that this was going to go well. Your family fought for you. They have been there for you day and night.

You are and will continue to be deeply missed, Ari. And I feel a sorrow that you not quite understood how loved you were. I hope that we who are left behind, can be good at complimenting each other and say the nice words to each other. Because we have this life to share how happy we are for each other and which fantastic qualities we see in each other. We keep you in love, Ari, and go on with your own words: Every day is a party and you are a jewel.

Funeral service for Gunnila Bernadotte, Countess of Wisborg

The funeral service for Gunnila Bernadotte, Countess of Wisborg, who died on 12 September 2016, 93 years old, took place at the Palace Church in Stockholm today. As previously told it was a private ceremony for the closest family members and friends and thus with no media coverage inside the church.

Gunnila Bernadotte was the second wife of Carl Johan, Count of Wisborg, an uncle of King Carl Gustaf.

The king, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Daniel, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia represented the royal house. According to Expressen, also the King's sister, Princess Christina Mrs. Magnuson, and her husband Tord Magnuson, were present, in addition to among others Princess Benedikte of Denmark.

The service was officiated by Lars-Göran Lönnermark, Bishop Emeritus and head predicate and Michael Bjerkhagen, pastor of the Royal Court Parish.

After the service the coffin was taken to the Royal Burial Ground at Haga outside Stockholm, where Count Carl Johan is also buried. For a couple of photos from the church service, go here.

According to the death announcement, which was published in among others Svenska Dagbladet and Helsingborgs Dagblad on 22 September, there will be a memorial gathering at Norrvikens Trädgård in Båstad on 6 October 2016.

Both the death announcement as well as Expressen earlier today listed Bärbo (i.e. Tistad Castle) as Countess Gunnila's place of birth. This contradicts the information from the church books of both Bärbo and Engelbrekt, which said she was born in Stockholm, something I discussed earlier this month. The churchbooks are much closer to the event, so for the time being I think Stockholm is the most likely place of birth, but I would still like to find an independent source, like for instance a midwife report, to get the question settled once and for all.

Expressen also repeats the claim that Gunnila Bernadotte in her first marriage with Carl-Herman Bussler had 3 children, while they in fact had four. Their second daughter Catharina was born on 21 July 1946 and died shortly after on 8 August.

The last interview the weekly magazine Svensk Damtidning made with Gunnila Bernadotte took place in 2014. The interview was republished at its website today. In the interview she told among others about her life after the death of her husband, her new apartment in Båstad and her five grandchildren.

Updated on Thursday 29 September 2016 at 9.55 p.m. (photo link added), last time on Sunday 23 April 2017 at 14.15 (minor typo corrected).

Funeral service for Johan Martin Ferner

The funeral service for Johan Martin Ferner, who died on 24 January 2015, took place at Holmenkollen Chapel in Oslo today, with bishop emeritus Sigurd Osberg and parish pastor Jan Erik Heffermehl officiating. In attendance were - besides Johan Martin Ferner's widow Princess Astrid and her nearest family - King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn, as well as other Ferner family members and many friends. Former foreign secretary Thorvald Stoltenberg, an old friend of Princess Astrid, and Crown Prince Haakon's former girl-friend Cathrine Knudsen, also attended.

The funeral service was described as private, meaning that the media was not allowed inside the chapel during the ceremony. A small pool of photographers covered the event when the mourners entered and left the chapel.

From today's press release from the Royal Court we learn that the ceremony was opened by the musician Ole Edvard Antonsen's trumpet with Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man". A group of soloists from the boys' choir Sølvguttene ("Boys of Silver", the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's boys choir) sang "Pie Jesu" by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Antonsen also rounded off the ceremony with "Ave Maria" (Bach/Gounod). Hymns during the ceremony were "Alltid freidig" and "Deilig er jorden" ("Fairest Lord Jesus"). The organist was Petter Amundsen.

See also photo and film coverage at VG.no, Dagbladet.no and NRK.no. Among the many wreaths can be spotted one from the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg as well as the one from Princess Astrid (green ribbon).

Updated on Monday 2 February 2015 at 22:35 (typo corrected; first paragraph modified).

Members of the Norwegian Royal Family attending the funeral service for Johan Martin Ferner

The Norwegian Royal Court has confirmed that in addition to Johan Martin Ferner's widow Princess Astrid Mrs. Ferner, King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn will all attend the funeral service, which will take place at Holmenkollen Chapel on Monday 2 February 2015.

The late Johan Martin Ferner's nearest family is of course also expected to attend, in addition to other Ferner relatives. Some of the Lorentzens might fly in from Brazil. Erling Lorentzen, who celebrates his 92nd birthday today, seems to be in good shape for his age, but could still find the long flight too tiresome.

The funeral will be a private affair without media presence. I doubt that there will be many, if any, members of foreign royal families present, as the historian Trond Norén Isaksen has also commented on in his blog article of Monday 26 January 2015.

Funeral service for Johan Martin Ferner

The funeral service for Princess Astrid's husband Johan Martin Ferner, who died on Saturday 24 January 2015, 87 years old, will take place at Holmenkollen Chapel on Monday 2 February 2015 (1 p.m.), the Norwegian Royal Court announced today.

HM The King has decided that on the day the funeral service takes place, the flag will be flown at half mast from the Palace balcony. After the ceremony of sprinkling earth on the coffin has taken place, the flag will be hoisted to the top.

It is still not known where Ferner will be interred.

The Holmenkollen Chapel, which is situated in the Ris parish in Oslo, is close to the hearts of both the royal family and the Ferners. After the chapel burned down in 1992,  Princess Astrid Mrs. Ferner was involved in the campaign for rebuilding it. Princess Astrid and Johan Martin's eldest son Alexander was married there in 1996. Holmenkollen Chapel is also the place where the royal family traditionally attends the service on Christmas Day.

Memorial service for Princess Kristine Bernadotte to take place on 15 November

The memorial service for Princess Kristine Bernadotte, née Rivelsrud, who died on 4 November 2014, will take place at Drottningholm Palace Chapel outside Stockholm on Saturday 15 November 2014. Afterwards she will be laid to rest next to her husband, Prince Carl Bernadotte (1911-2003), at the Royal Cemetery at Haga.

According to the official program published at the Norwegian Royal Court's website, King Harald, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Haakon, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn will attend the memorial service as well as the funeral.

The Swedish Royal House will be represented by King Carl Gustaf, Queen Silvia, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, cf. the Swedish Royal Court's website.

Updated on 14 November 2014 at 08:55 (name mix-up corrected).

Crown Prince Haakon at Rolv Wesenlund's funeral service

The funeral service for the actor, comedian and TV program host Rolv Helge Wesenlund, who died on 18 August 2013, 76 years old, took place at Frogner Church in Oslo today. Crown Prince Haakon as well as Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg attended the service.

Photos from the service can be viewed on VG.no. Wesenlund was born in Horten, Vestfold county, and the urn will be interred there after the cremation.

Longest reigns website updated following the death of Crown Prince Nayef of Saudi Arabia

Crown Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, who was appointed as Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on 28 October 2011 following the death of Crown Prince Sultan, died on Saturday 16 June 2012 in Switzerland, 78 or 79 years old.

I have therefore once again had to update my Longest reigns website.

Crown Prince Nayef, who besides his position as first in line of succession, also served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, was laid to rest at the Al-Adl cemetery in Mecca on Sunday 17 June. In attendance were, besides King Abdullah and numerous members of the Saudi Royal House, among others the Emir of Kuwait and the military ruler of Egypt, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.

As most people expected, King Abdullah decided yesterday to appoint his half-brother Prince Salman as his new heir. The 76-year-old prince will continue as defence minister, a post he was appointed to in October 2011, and he has also been appointed deputy prime minister.

Royals and other dignitaries from all over the world has today gathered in Jeddah for the traditional condolence ceremony for the late Crown Prince Nayef. Among the many mourners listed at the Saudi Press Agency's website were Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, former President Samuel Schmid of Switzerland (named "George Samotejl" by the agency), Foreign Minister János Martonyi of Hungary, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul of Thailand, the Emir of Qatar, the Duke of York (Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom), Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al-Khaimah, Sheikh Hamad bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman and Vice President of Guinea, Osman Bah.The presentation of condolences from foreign dignitaries will continue on Wednesday 20 June.

Selected articles and obituaries following the death of Crown Prince Nayef:

• Al Jazeera 16 June 2012: Saudi heir apparent Prince Nayef dead 
• Time.com 16 June 2012: A Death in The Family. Saudi Arabia’s Succession Saga 
• Al Arabyia News 17 June 2012: Saudi King Abdullah leads funeral for Crown Prince Nayef in Mecca 
• CNN.com 17 June 2012: Funeral held for Saudi Crown Prince Nayef 
• Telegraph.co.uk 17 June 2012: News/Obituary: Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz al Saud 
• Al Jazeera 18 June 2012: Saudi crown prince laid to rest in Mecca 
• Time.com 18 June 2012: Saudi Arabia’s Heir to the Throne: Meet Crown Prince Salman 
• Al Jazeera 19 June 2012: Prince Salman named Saudi crown prince

King George Tupou V of Tonga laid to rest

The funeral of King George Tupou V of Tonga, who died at Hong Kong on Sunday 18 March 2012, took place yesterday, Tuesday 27 March 2012, at the Royal Tombs, Mala'e Kula, in the capital Nuku'alofa. Photos from the ceremony can be viewed at the website of Matangi Tonga Online.

According to the Tonga Government Portal and Matangi Tonga, several high-level dignitaries attended the funeral. Among them were the Governor-General of New Zealand, Rt. Hon. Sir Jeffrey Mateparae, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, Hon. Bill English, New Zealand minister of foreign affairs, Murray McCully, minister of Pacific Island affairs, Hekia Parata, Minister of Maori Affairs Dr. Pita Sharples as well as Labour party leader David Shearer, Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce and parliamentary seretary for Pacific Island Affairs Richard Marles, HH Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi and HH Masiofo Filifilia of Samoa, the Maori King, HM King Tuihetia and Makau Ariki Atawhai, the Duke of Gloucester (Prince Richard of the United Kingdom), TIH Prince and Princess Hitachi of Japan, the Governor General of Papua New Guinea HE Sir Michael Ogio and his wife Esme Ogio as well as the President of Fiji, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau and his wife Adi Koila.