Prince Henrik: consort of Denmark’s queen dies
French-born royal outraged Danes by refusing to be buried next to his wife
Prince Henrik of Denmark, the husband of Queen Margrethe, has died at the age of 83.
In a statement, the Danish Royal House confirmed that the French-born prince died “peacefully in his sleep”, two weeks after being diagnosed with a benign tumour. “Her Majesty the Queen and the two sons were at his side.”
The prince was a divisive figure in his adopted country. A flamboyant dresser with a passion for fine food, wine, poetry and art, he was “both loved and criticised by the Danes for his aristocratic manner,” says Reuters.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Born Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat to a family of titled industrialists in south-west France in 1934, the future royal spent the first five years of his life in Vietnam, where his family had business interests.
He remained fascinated with the Far East for the rest of his life, returning to Hanoi to study as a teenager and later becoming fluent in Vietnamese and Chinese.
He joined the French embassy in London in 1962, leaving in 1967 to marry the then-princess Margrethe.
The royal couple set up home in Denmark, where “Henri” became Henrik. In the two years that followed, they welcomed two sons, Frederik and Joachim.
Never one for mincing words, Prince Henrik made his dissatisfaction with his title extremely public in the years after Queen Margrethe ascended to the throne in 1972.
In a tradition similar to that of the British royal family, the husbands of Danish queens are given the title of prince consort rather than king, as awarding them the higher role would elevate them above their wives in the traditional royal hierarchy.
The controversy took on a new dimension last August when the prince declared that he would not be buried at Roskilde Cathedral, the resting place of Danish monarchs and their spouses for the past 459 years, because of his long-standing grievance.
“The queen already had a specially designed sarcophagus waiting for the couple,” says The Independent. She is said to have accepted her husband’s decision.
Prince Henrik formally renounced the title of Prince Consort in 2016 when he retired from public duties. A year later, he was diagnosed with dementia.
Last week, it was reported that his health had taken a turn for the worse. Crown Prince Frederik cut short his visit to the Winter Olympics in South Korea to be with his father at Fredensborg Palace, where he spent his final days.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Duchess of Gloucester: the hard-working royal you've never heard of
Under The Radar Outer royal 'never expected' to do duties but has stepped up to the plate
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Are 'judge shopping' rules a blow to Republicans?
Today's Big Question How the abortion pill case got to the Supreme Court
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is driving Indian women to choose sterilization
under the radar Faced with losing their jobs, they are making a life-altering decision
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Europe's oldest shoes found in Spanish caves
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Artworks stolen by Nazis returned to heirs of cabaret performer
It wasn't all bad Good news stories from the past seven days
By The Week Staff Published