Denmark's Prince Henrik, who wanted to be king, dies at 83
Prince Henrik of Denmark, the husband of Queen Margrethe who was famous for his public unhappiness at never being named king, has died at the age of 83.
The controversial French-born prince had been diagnosed with dementia last year and was admitted to hospital in January with a lung infection.
His flamboyant style was both loved and criticised by Danes.
Frustrated with his royal title, he announced in 2017 that he did not want to be buried next to his wife.
The 77-year-old queen accepted her husband's decision, the Royal House said at the time, breaking a 459-year-old tradition of burying royal spouses together.
She already has a specially-built sarcophagus in a cathedral west of Copenhagen where the remains of Danish royals are buried.
The prince died "peacefully in his sleep" at the Fredensborg Castle, north of Copenhagen, with Queen Margrethe and their two sons - Crown Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim - at his side.
Born Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat on 11 June 1934, Prince Henrik married the then-crown princess Margrethe in 1967.
When she became queen in 1972, he was named Prince Consort - in Denmark, a princess traditionally becomes queen when her husband takes the throne, but a man does not become king if his wife becomes queen.
But over the years, he made no secret about his unhappiness at being denied the title of king. And many Danes disliked him for that, seeing it as a sign of an arrogant man hungry for recognition.
'Degraded and humiliated'
Prince Henrik did not take it lightly when, in 2002, Crown Prince Frederik was chosen to represent Queen Margrethe at a New Year's ceremony, instead of him.
Saying he had to "reflect on life", he dramatically fled to his chateau in southern France, where he would stay for three weeks.
To a Danish tabloid, he said the royal staff had shunted him into "third place in the royal hierarchy". He had felt "pushed aside, degraded and humiliated", and his self-respect was being destroyed.
"For many years I have been Denmark's number two," he said at the time. "I've been satisfied with that role, but I don't want to be relegated to number three."
Read more
- Call to end Danish royal hunt rights
- Danes 'dislike paying' for ex-princess
- Danish queen 'proud of her people'
- The world's longest-reigning monarchs
The episode became a source of joke but was turning point for others, especially many young Danes, who thought his manner represented a break from the norms of cultural uniformity in Danish society.
He spoke with a thick French accent and was known for his love of food, wine and poetry.
In 2016, he retired from official duties, renouncing the title of Prince Consort. In the time since, he was often in France at his private vineyard.
Crown Prince Frederick returned from the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea last week to be with his ailing father.
Prince Henrik did not want a state funeral and the ceremony will be small and private, the Royal House said.
Following his wish, he will be cremated, with half his ashes spread over Danish seas and the other half buried in the royal private garden at the Fredensborg Castle.