Johan Martin Ferner was something of an enigma on the European royal scene. His surname is familiar as his wife has it as part of her rather unusual royal title. But the man himself kept things pretty low key. However, his death was announced by the Royal Court to which he was aligned and has made headlines across the continent. Johan Martin Ferner was a man who made royal wedding history.
Johan Martin Ferner, 1927 - 2015
(photo royalcourt.no)
He was the groom at a controversial and unusual royal marriage. He arrived at the church in Asker, just outside Oslo, on January 12th 1961, and was joined not long afterwards by his bride, Princess Astrid of Norway, daughter of King Olav. They said their vows before hundreds of guests, including members of several European royal families, and left as husband and wife. But there was one very big difference between Mr Ferner and other recent royal bridegrooms. He had been divorced.
Princess Astrid and Johan Martin Ferner on their wedding day, January 12th 1961
(photo royalcourt.no)
He was also a commoner but that wasn't new ground for the Norwegian royal by then as Astrid's sister, Princess Ragnhild, had married a non royal in 1953. But the fact that Johan Martin Ferner had been divorced really did set tongues wagging. The marriage was much more low key than it might have been had Princess Astrid chosen a different bridegroom. There was no big celebration in Oslo and parts of the Lutheran church in Norway objected to the marriage. But the couple were still greeted by thousands of cheering fellow country people as they made their way to Asker church on their wedding day. And among the guests at the service was Princess Margaret who had famously given up the man she loved as he had been divorced. It was just twenty five years since Princess Astrid's cousin, King Edward VIII, had given up his throne to marry the twice divorced Wallis Simpson. In many ways, the marriage of Astrid and Johan Martin Ferner changed royal weddings as for the first time in years a princess had wed a divorced man with royalty as guests and without losing her position.
King Olav of Norway with his daughter and new son-in-law on their wedding day
(photo royalcourt.no)
Johan Martin Ferner was born on July 22nd 1927 in Norway but his name as birth was Jacobsen. His father was called Ferner Jacobsen and his first name was later adopted as a surname. Johan Martin Ferner won a silver medal for sailing at the Helsinki Olympics and also ran a successful department store with his brother. His first marriage took place in 1953 and ended in divorce three years later.
Princess Astrid and Johan Martin Ferner on the day they announced their engagement in November 1960
(photo royalcourt.no)
Princess Astrid Maud Ingeborg of Norway entered the church in Asker for her wedding as Her Royal Highness and left as Her Highness Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner. She has been known by that name ever since. Until 1968 she continued to act as First Lady of Norway, a role she had taken on following the death of her mother, Princess Martha. On her brother's marriage to Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, Princess Astrid ceded that role to her new sister-in-law. By then Princess Astrid, Mrs Ferner and Mr Ferner had two daughters and a son. They would have a further two children together.
Princess Astrid with her father, King Olav, and her brother, then Crown Prince Harald, awaiting the arrival of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of the Belgians on a State Visit in 1965
(photo royalcourt.no)
Johan Martin Ferner died in the early hours of January 24th 2015 at the Rikshospitalet in Oslo at the age of 87. He is survived by Princess Astrid and their family. His brother in law, King Harald V, announced his passing with a message of condolence to his sister who he said had lost a 'wonderful husband'. Mr Ferner was a family man who will be missed by his loved ones. But he also had his own place in royal history - as a bridegroom who changed royal weddings.
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