Prince Henrik Diagnosed with Dementia: September 2017 & Further Health Issues

[Muhler]

Indeed.

PH's issues especially in regards to him not being king, didn't start a couple of years ago.
And personally I think the way he was discussed here on TRF was pretty fair, considering what we knew at the time. - And certainly compared to how he was discussed elsewhere!

A part of the problem was also the PR handling of his condition. The DRF could in hindsight have called the press together and explained that he is undergoing tests for dementia or simply asked the to hold back because things were not right with him. - As they would have suspected strongly a while back, otherwise there was little need for him to be tested and diagnosed with dementia.
That is why there are already speculations out about what is wrong with him now. Not in the press, yet, but on social medias.
So when whatever tests it is PH is to undergo are concluded, I believe, that something must be published.
Not because the papers wish to sell more papers, they do of course, but mostly because there is a genuine interest in his condition, which everybody knows will only get worse. Mixed with that people would like to show their sympathy for especially QMII but also the rest of the family.
It's not altogether morbid curiosity.

It's akin to neighbors who live a bit down the road. You've known them for many many years. You may not dine with them, but you've seen their children grow up and get married and divorced... and you've seen their grandchildren. So there is a natural curiosity and also sympathy for them when they have their problems.

 

[TLLK]

Very true Muhler and camelot23ca as Henrik was known for these comments many years before his diagnosis. Had they been out of character for him, I do believe that the question of dementia would have been raised earlier.

 

[JR76]

New research shows a possibility that people afflicted by Alzheimer can start showing symptoms up to already 30 years before the disease really begins to show. Just because Henrik didn't get ill until a few years ago doesn't mean that he's not been having symptoms for a long time.

 

[Muhler]

TV2 has apparently called the court and been told that QMII, her sons and daughters-in-law have visited PH Tuesday and Wednesday.
Familien har besøgt prins Henrik på hospitalet - TV 2

But apart from that there are no news.

My guess is that there will be a statement late this week.
If he continues to be admitted over the weekend, there will almost certainly be speculations in the press as to whether this is serious.

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ADDED. I see from the preview of this weeks BB that Mary is being quoted for saying something about PH. - Probably not saying much, but we shall see tomorrow.

 

[maria-olivia]

Mr Muhler, why should the Prince not return in France ?

 

[Muhler]

He might eventually.

I can very well imagine that when the time comes that he can no longer travel, that he will move to Chateau Cayz.
There he can live in peace and quiet, with his French relatives close by. because we must keep in mind that he will eventually revert more and more and that is likely to mean only speaking - and understanding French. But also that he will slowly go back in time, and eventually to his childhood and that was in (colonial) French surroundings.
There are also less distractions that could get him excited. I think mainly on him not being the king issue. - And should they call him king Henri there, so be it. He's away from the court and the protocol.

Also, should he be critical, that is develop terminal cancer before he loses his cognitive abilities too much, Chateau Cayz might be a good hospice until he is close to the end.

Having said all that, while he is still able to travel, I see no reason why he shouldn't take up more or less permanent residence at Chateau Cayz.

Some will of course think the worst an say he's shipped out of way to France. But most will understand that it's more an act of kindness should he live the rest of his life there.

 

[AdmirerUS]

Just from personal experience:

With both dementia and Alzheimer's there are physical impacts that lag behind the mental/cognitive symptoms. So things like decreased resistance to various infections which are more common in older folk (UTIs, respiratory illnesses, wounds that seem to not heal, etc.) do happen and can cause hospitalizations for SECONDARY health issues. Decreased mobility also can be a sudden or gradual issue.

It could very well be any of those. We need to have patience. He is getting excellent care, I am sure. All the speculation and curiosity will not help him. But support and understanding for his family will be a blessing. JMO.

 

[Muhler]

There are really no news about PH, except two quotes from Frederik and Mary.

Frederik was asked outside, Børsen = the Stock Exchange in Copenhagen.
Kronprins Frederik om sin far: - Det går fremad - TV 2
https://www.bt.dk/danmark/kronprins...ar-paa-hospitalet-nu-venter-vi-bare-stille-og
Here he replied: That his father is getting better. "He is in good hands. Now we just wait calmly (for the results of the tests)".

And Mary is quoted in this weeks issue of Billed Bladet for saying on Tuesday: "It's comforting and good to see him at home and in the best hands/care".

QMII doesn't have much on her agenda these days, so she will have time to see to her husband, without having to cancel anything - right now.

 

[Muhler]

There is a statement from the court today: https://www.bt.dk/danmark/prins-henrik-undersoegt-for-tumor-i-venstre-lunge

"Prince Henrik is still admitted. He has been checked for a tumor in the left loung. It turns out to be benign".

ADDED: In more details here: http://kongehuset.dk/nyheder/hkh-prins-henrik-fortsat-indlagt-paa-rigshospitalet

His Royal Highness Prince Henrik has since Sunday 28. January been admitted to the lung-surgical ward (not sure what the name will be in English) at Rigshospitalet, for tests regarding a tumor in the left lung. The tumor has fortunately turned out to be benign.
Prince Henrik will today be transferred to infection-medical ward for treatment for a lunge-infection.
After the treatment has ended His Royal Highness will take up residence at Fredensborg Slot.
In that context Her Majesty the Queen will today take up residence at Fredensborg Slot.

 

[sm1939]

Wonder how the Queen is doing , with her husband having dementia . Must be so hard for her

 

[maria-olivia]

That is life. She is not the only one!

 

[Muhler]

PH was the top story on TV2 news at noon. And they had brought in the BB journalist Trine Larsen, who IMO is one of the two journalists in DK who know him the best.

She said PH's health is very poor and that he has suffered from infections.
- I can't say whether she means that his general health, including dementia, makes him poor or whether she has heard something. I think there is a good chance that she has heard something. But the Danish legislation regarding privacy is very strict, so it is most unlikely that any paper or magazine would write about what they have learned about PH's medical condition. That would be unethical.

That he is moving in at Fredensborg is no surprise. But I think it's unlikely he will do much if any traveling from now on. I think Fredensborg is now a nursing home for PH.

 

[JR76]

That is life. She is not the only one!

"In sickness and in health, for better or for worse"... Margrethe and Henrik are fortunate that they're able to stay together. During my 20 years caring for the elderly I've seen spouses crushed by the fact that they've been forced to admit their partner after a lifetime together. The guilt is almost unbearable for some.

 

[Mbruno]

There is a statement from the court today: https://www.bt.dk/danmark/prins-henrik-undersoegt-for-tumor-i-venstre-lunge

"Prince Henrik is still admitted. He has been checked for a tumor in the left lounge. It turns out to be benign".

ADDED: In more details here: H.K.H. Prins Henrik fortsat indlagt på Rigshospitalet | Kongehuset

His Royal Highness Prince Henrik has since Sunday 28. January been admitted to the lounge-surgical ward (not sure what the name will be in English) at Rigshospitalet, for tests regarding a tumor in the left lounge. The tumor has fortunately turned out to be benign.
Prince Henrik will today be transferred to infection-medical ward for treatment for a lounge-infection.
After the treatment has ended His Royal Highness will take up residence at Fredensborg Slot.
In that context Her Majesty the Queen will today take up residence at Fredensborg Slot.

By "lounge", do you mean lung (i.e "lunge" in Danish) ? I guess so, but I was confused.

I'm glad it turned out to be benign.

 

[Muhler]

TV2 have asked a specialist in lunges, and lung-cancer, Torben Riis Rasmussen from Aarhus University Hospital, about what it that is wrong with PH.

Prins Henrik ramt af godartet tumor - kan føre til flere lungebetændelser - TV 2

A tumor in the lung may sound dangerous, but doesn't necessarily have to be so.
"For most people it doesn't mean anything. If a benign lump/tumor, which mostly is a fat- or tissue-lump, is primarily is located in the lungs, it will usually not lead to symptoms. But if the same type of benign lump so to speak grow into your airways, it can make it difficult to get rid of secrete and that can lead to you having pneumonia.
Judging from what has been told, it could point to this being the case with Prince Henrik".

The fact that PH has been transferred to a ward where lung-infections are treated is a a good indication of where the tumor is located.
"It's likely that the pneumonia can stem from a benign tumor growing into an airway. That means you are more likely to contract pneumonia which is certainly not a harmless (as in life-threatening) illness for an elderly person".

If Torben Riis Rasmussen is correct in the location of the tumor, it can be removed by laser-treatment.

"Right now the damage is done and the Prince Consort has pneumonia. It is however difficult to say how long it will take to treat him.
That depends on how severe the pneumonia is and how difficult it is to treat it. If it is blocking the airways, it can be difficult and as such take a longer time".

But he may contract pneumonia time and time again after this.

Yes, Mbruno. I meant lung. That's what happens when I read and think in Danish but write in English.
Yes, it's a benign tumor, but PH is by no means out of danger, now or later. Pneumonia is a big killer among elderly.

 

[camelot23ca]

"In sickness and in health, for better or for worse"... Margrethe and Henrik are fortunate that they're able to stay together. During my 20 years caring for the elderly I've seen spouses crushed by the fact that they've been forced to admit their partner after a lifetime together. The guilt is almost unbearable for some.

Indeed. My grandfather had dementia and my grandmother almost killed herself trying to care for him at home long past the point where it made sense. Eventually the situation became unsustainable and he was admitted to a long term care facility. My grandmother outlived him by twenty years and I don’t think she ever got over the guilt and anger associated with the fact that he couldn’t stay at home. For her “in sickness and in health, until death do us part” meant literally that and I don’t think that was an uncommon attitude for that generation.

Margrethe and Henrik are fortunate that they can physically be together until the end, if that’s what they want.

 

[Muhler]

Joachim has been asked about his father: https://www.bt.dk/royale/prins-joachim-har-nyt-om-sin-far-vi-er-lettede-men-henrik-er-svag

Q: How is the family's reaction to the relatively good news about Prince Henrik?
Joachim: "First and foremost relief that it was benign.
Now there is an infection, that needs mending as well.
He is improving and that's what we put emphasis on".

Q: How is the spirit of the Prince?
Joachim: (Hesitant) "He is of course weak, but seen broadly his spirit is good".

 

[eya]

The news is not good for Prince Henrik. CP Frederik returns in Denmark.

"The state of his Royal Highness Prince Henrik is unfortunately greatly worsened.

His Royal Highness The Crown Prince has thus discontinued his stay in South Korea, where he was in conjunction with the winter Olympics. The Crown Prince is now on his way to Denmark.

Kongehuset currently has no additional information."

H.K.H. Prins Henriks tilstand forværret | Kongehuset

According to the brother Etienne Prince Henrik's sister Catherine is on her way to Denmark.

https://ekstrabladet.dk/flash/konge...enriks-soester-paa-vej-til-koebenhavn/7033842

 

[Muhler]

No, I think we should be prepared for the worst - and soon.

So far it's only in the papers. And they won't write much more than this statement. If they begin to speculate it would be considered ghoulish.

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I'll estimate Frederik will be back within the next ten hours, that is before darkness here in DK. And then we shall see.
PH is very much a family-oriented man, I think he would wait for his entire family to be there...

 

[principessa]

I hope for him that he recovers soon.

 

[Curryong]

Oh, no! This is awful! Poor Prince Henrik, poor Queen Margrethe, his children and grandchildren.

I feel absolutely dreadful for having said things about his seeming tantrums and unusual fashion sense in the past. I do hope for a peaceful passing for him if that is his fate.

 

[carina_a]

All the best to Prince Henrik and family

That being said, he's quite old now and hasn't been the most healthy recently. Anything is possible.

 

[Elektra]

It's not a good news to wake up to .

Whatever happens in the next hours and days, my thoughts are with him, the Queen, his children and grandchildren.

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Thanks to eya and Muhler!

The coverage of it in Norway:

The main story on TV2 News Channel. - They also have it as a breaking news story in the bottom of the TV screen.

They are now talking to their royal expert Kjell Arne Totland.

Also the main story on the NRK (Norway's public broadcasting company) and VG (one of Norway's two largest papers) websites.

 

[Muhler]

That's to be expected.

Apart from the tabloids here in DK, the papers still maintain a respectful distance. PH is after all not dead yet.
And if the tabloids go much further I think they are going to get some heat for that - and deservedly so.

These are considerations the foreign press need not take to the same extent.

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Until the announcement comes (and there is after all the possibility that PH will recover) I will refrain from speculating about protocol, funeral, traditions and so on. - That's for a future thread.
And only concentrate on official announcements, quotes (which is doubtful) from the DRF and PH's French relatives and the coming and goings of the DRF to and from Rigshospitalet.

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

For CP Frederik to return to Denmark means this is very very serious.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

I agree, if they call back Frederik from South Korea the situation will be grave and possibly life-threatening for Henrik what can easy be the case, lung related issues/infections are very high up when it comes to cause of death.

 

[SLV]

Oh dear. Not good news.

 

[MidwestMom]

So sorry to hear this. When it was announced that the tumor was benign, I was relieved - my father had lung cancer. But if there is an infection, at his age and in his physical condition, it can quickly become very serious. Sending good thoughts to the family. Also to the people of Denmark, who are very fond of this colorful man.

 

[Muhler]

https://www.bt.dk/royale/prins-henriks-bror-ikke-paa-vej-til-danmark

Here is a quote from PH's brother Etienne de Monpezat.

He is not on his way to DK.

"No, I'm not on my way to Denmark, because I await the latest news. I know my brother is not well. It looks like being a matter of weeks".

Nej, jeg er ikke på vej til Danmark, for jeg venter på de seneste nyheder. Jeg ved, at min bror ikke har det godt. Det ser ud til at være et spørgsmål om uger,