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| Denmark's Prince Henrik, who wanted to be king, dies at 83 | Denmark's Prince Henrik, who wanted to be king, dies at 83 |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. He met her while stationed in London as a diplomat. | |
| When she became queen in 1972, he was named Prince Consort - as in most monarchies, 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, the prince - who had changed his name to Henrik as a mark of respect - 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' | '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. | 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. | 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. | 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 then. "I've been satisfied with that role, but I don't want to be relegated to number three." | "For many years I have been Denmark's number two," he said then. "I've been satisfied with that role, but I don't want to be relegated to number three." |
| Read more | Read more |
| While the episode became a source of joke for many, it was a turning point for others, especially many young Danes, who thought his manner represented a break from the norms of cultural uniformity in Danish society. | While the episode became a source of joke for many, it was a turning point for others, especially many young Danes, who thought his manner represented a break from the norms of cultural uniformity in Danish society. |
| Prince Henrik was also known for his thick French accent and his love of food, wine and poetry, and several of his cookbooks and collections of poems have been published. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Prince Henrik did not want a state funeral, the Royal House said, and the ceremony would be small and private. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Queen Margrethe already has a specially-built sarcophagus in a cathedral west of Copenhagen where the remains of Danish royals are buried. | |
| Reacting to the death, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Prince Henrik had "represented Denmark magnificently". |