The death of Wilma, Princess Astrid’s 12-year-old dog, just days after the princess died became one of Norway’s widely discussed stories. Astrid, 94, was buried on Wednesday, two weeks after her brother, King Harald. Coverage raised the possibility that Wilma died of grief, but no veterinary cause was established: a television expert said only that it could not be ruled out.
Wilma came to the princess after her previous owner became seriously ill. According to the column, she accompanied Astrid to concerts, exhibitions, state visits and the princess’s final official engagement. Astrid said on her 93rd birthday that Wilma meant everything to her. The Palace said the dog died peacefully in a loved one’s arms.
The columnist points to the contrast between public attention to Wilma and many more consequential events receiving less coverage. At the same time, the writer says the response is understandable: pets are increasingly treated as family members, friends and public personalities. After Astrid’s death, readers asked how Wilma was doing, and the rehoming centre said the princess’s children were caring for her.
The column frames the coverage as a story about people’s attachment to pets and how media turn that bond into a narrative audiences recognize. The suggestion that Wilma died of grief is presented as an emotional interpretation, not an established fact.