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Princess Astrid of Norway has been admitted to Rikshospitalet hospital in Oslo due to heart failure, the Royal House of Norway has confirmed. The 94-year-old royal was rushed to the hospital on Wednesday shortly after attending the 100th anniversary celebration of the Blindern and Vinderen sanitary association, where she has served as Patron since 1954. In a statement issued on Friday, the palace confirmed that Princess Astrid had been admitted to hospital after suffering heart failure and has undergone the insertion of a temporary pacemaker.

The palace said: "Her Highness Princess Astrid has been admitted to Rikshospitalet due to heart failure. Today, she underwent the insertion of a temporary pacemaker.

"Princess Astrid wishes to convey that she is in the best of hands. She will remain at Rikshospitalet for some time."

The admission comes just months after the princess was treated in hospital for pneumonia in March. Senior members of the royal family including Queen Sonja visited her at her bedside.

Princess Astrid has remained a prominent figure in Norwegian public life well into her nineties. Born in 1932, she is one of the world's longest-serving working royals.

Princess Astrid is the only surviving sibling of King King Harald V of Norway. When Crown Princess Märtha died in 1954, the then 22-year-old Princess Astrid stepped into the role of First Lady, taking on many of the official duties within the royal household until 1968.

The princess still carries out official duties, attending selected engagements and supporting a range of long-standing patronages on behalf of the Norwegian royal family.

She also assumed responsibility for Crown Princess Märtha's Memorial Fund, a role that has remained a key focus of her public work ever since.

The princess is rarely seen without her beloved dog Wilma.

As a great-granddaughter of Edward VII, she is a second cousin to the late Queen Elizabeth II.