The Danish Court has issued a statement that Prince Henrik of Denmark, aged 83 has passed away ‘peacefully in his sleep’ on Tuesday, 13 February, at 11.18pm at Fredensborg Palace.

Photo: Kongehuset/Torben Estarod

Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim were by his side.

The Dannebrog has been lowered to half-mast at the palace and a period of court mourning will be observed until Wednesday, 14 March 2018.

Prince Henrik had been released from Rigshospitalet earlier that day, to spend the remainder of his life at home, surrounded by family.

He was diagnosed with dementia in September 2017.

Queen Margrethe’s birthday on 16 April 2016. L to R: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie. Sitting: Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik. Photo: Kunghuset/
Steen Brogaard ©

Prince Henrik was hospitalised at Rigshospitalet on 28 January 2018, after returning home from Egypt. Doctors ran tests to discover Prince Henrik had a benign tumour in his left lung.

However, his health deteriorated so Crown Prince Frederik had rushed home from Pyeongchang, prior to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.

Crown Princess Mary arrived before 11 am at Rigshospitalet on Friday, February. She left about half an hour later with her children Prince Christian and Princess Isabella

A source from the Royal Court said Crown Prince Frederik had visited with his mother Queen Margrethe and wife Crown Princess Mary, as soon as he arrived home.

Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim again visited the hospital on Saturday morning, 10 February.

The Danish Royal Family, Christmas 2014.

The entire Royal Family again visited Rigshospitalet on Saturday afternoon.

Prince Henrik’s younger brother Etienne spoke to Danish publication BT last week that it was ‘only a matter of weeks’.

Prince Henrik was born Henri Marie Jean André greve de Laborde de Monpezat on 11 June 1934 in Talence, a suburb of Bordeaux in south-western France, in his grandmother’s house.

He met Queen Margrethe whilst working as a diplomat in London and they married in 1967.

They have two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, and eight grandchildren.

He held the title of Prince Consort but renounced it when he retired from official duties in 2016.

Prince Henrik and Queen Margrethe celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 2017.

Prince Henrik with Queen Margrethe II aboard the royal yacht Dannebrog last year celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Kongehuset ©

However, he sparked controversy in August 2017 when he announced he refused to be buried next to Queen Margrethe at Roskilde Cathedral, after speaking often of his frustration being denied the title of King when his wife became Queen in 1972.


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