Is it possible he has the start of dementia? It does sound awfully petty to refuse the burial next to his wife. When I read statements like, "Henrik also risk losing all the sympathy and respect he has build up over his many years in Denmark" it sounds like he may not have been so petty in the past. I have not followed him closely and don't know for how long and how strongly he has been so childish but I'm just wondering.
Just as in the retirement thread PH is an endlessly fascinating study of human psychology! The wonderful thing about PH's psychology is that everyone can have an opinion and be right.
Dementia is indeed a plausible thought, but in that case he should be suffering from advanced dementia for years now.
I think it's perhaps more a question of him being obsessive. Many people are obsessive without being clinically insane. That's a stage many teenagers go through when they are fan of someone. But PH has in the last few years taken the step to becoming irrationally obsessive. He's still not insane, mind you. Not enough to lock him up.
We can debate endlessly as to
why he has become so obsessive. To the point of public self destruction. My bids are extreme egocentric and a serious megalomaniac streak.
I can hardly imagine how terrible it must be to see your husband, father, father-in-law and grandpapa, self-destruct in full public glare.
PH sure has had his problems here in DK! he was welcomed with open arms at first. Dashing and a bit exotic as he was. The problem with marrying into a tribe as PH did, is that you are either accepted by the tribe or you are not. It's 0 or 1, nothing inbetween.
PH early on annoyed the tribe. He wasn't serious enough about learning the language. (To his own regret and you'd be surprised how important that is!) He came across as arrogant, a kind of look-at-me, look-at-meee, oh and there is my wife. He also had considerable problems about his position when on the job. Not walking in front of QMII, which he tended to do. And back in the 70's that annoyed most women! There are persistent rumors that Queen Ingrid told him off on several occasions.
On top of that Danish humor is hard! It's very self-deprecating and if you take yourself too serious, you are in for a hard time!
Yet, PH did his job. He stood by QMII's side, without much recognition.
Then he had his tantrum at the fateful New Year Court where Frederik had to stand in for QMII, as the head of state. PH could not accept that. He could not accept that he was not standing in for the head of state, despite the Constitution saying clearly that if the Monarch is incapacitated, the Regent steps in.
That PH felt usurped by his own son is totally alien to the general Danish mindset. Where I and most Danish dads in such a situation would be over the moon with pride for our sons, PH felt snubbed.
Okay, then PH got a chance to really convey what he felt and there was a general feeling in the tribe that okay he may have goofed, but perhaps we didn't give him that much of a chance.
And PH became increasingly popular and in fact got a bit of a cult status among the young.
Then he vented the idea about becoming king and was told in no uncertain terms: No! Not gonna happen! Never! Forget it! - Let's not talk more about that!
Then he aired his misgivings at the now infamous Dutch interview, visibly embarrassing QMII. - That was bad!
Snubbing his wife at the jubilee, only to stroll around in Italy a couple of days later, was infuriating!
Then the very odd and sudden retirement and now this!
- The family may be more tolerant, but the public patience has now run out.
(Shortened)
I actually can see how this could indirectly damage the DRF -nobody like a Spaniard to know how individual behaviours and selfishness can damage the whole monarchical institution, you know ? - but I really hope the Danes will know how to differentiate between the members of the RF. That's why I think they'd better put a public distance between theirs and Henrik's ideas, and the sooner the better, as hard as I imagine it might be for them.
This is one step too far for the Danes. And I believe I can safely say that I speak for practically all of us.
There was a lot of resentment when he snubbed QMII in connection with her jubilee. That was a public humiliation and we do not like to see our Queen humiliated! And now he's done it again, and done it big time! Unless he's locked up in a rest-home within the next few month I cannot see how PH will be forgiven by the public for that one!
PH may be separating himself from the DRF as an institution. But the price is that the Danes are separating themselves from him.
Muhler, who do you believe to have chosen Lene Balleby's indiscreet statements yesterday?
Lene Balleby does not say a word that is not approved or approvable by QMII.
That Joachim today has used the exact same phrases suggests to me that this was something QMII and her sons agreed on.
Probably aided by advisors.
Jyllands Posten has an editorial today:
En dum beslutning af prins Henrik. Men han fortjener også respekt - Leder - Debat
It is hard, but as can be expected by a serious newspaper, it's also fair. As a business paper it very much acknowledge the good things PH has done for Denmark.
The editorial basically laments that PH has done such a foolish and self-absorbed thing.
- Perhaps other Danish members, or someone who can read Danish will translate some quotes?
It's a good and well balance editorial, well worth a read.
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The interesting articles are pouring in right now! Sorry, but I really have to cook dinner.
Here PH's very close friend Erik Brandt is very frank indeed! It is also very much worth a read!
http://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2017-...enrik-i-dag-vil-du-vide-hvor-jeg-vil-begraves