Death and Funeral of Prince Henrik of Denmark: February 13 and 20, 2018

[Empress Merel]

May he rest in peace. I'm against the glorification of those who have died and do not wish to forget the very questionable things someone has done in their lifetime, but I do not doubt he will be much missed by his family. I wish them the very best in their grieving process.

I've worked with people with forms of dementia for many years and do not wish it upon my worst enemy. In a way, I'm sort of relieved he passed away without the terrible process of losing your memories, cognitive functions and adulthood. He kept his sense of self.

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by Biri

There will also probably be his nephews and nieces (there are 14 of them as I know), Princess Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, King Constantine & Queen Anne-Marie of Greece with their respective children.

Since Prince Carl-Philip of Sweden is Margrethe's godson, I wonder if he will attend the service?

[Biri]

Probably yes; Did Prince Henrik have any godchildren?

[antonieta]

My condolences to the family.

[Winnie]

Prince Henrik is at peace now. My sincere condolences to his family.

[Muhler]

Tomorrow at 08.00 PH will be honored with 27 shot salute from the batteries: Battery Sixtus, at Holmen (the naval yard) fairly close to Amalienborg.
And at the same time a similar salute will be fired from 1700's canons at Kronborg.

The salute will last 40 minutes.

Why 27 shots, I hear you ask.

Because three shots was the Danish identification signal, especially at sea.
But sometimes also used by the army. But the army tended to use three hurrahs as an identification signal in the fog of battle.

Three times three shots marked the presence of the monarch. For a total of nine shots.
But a mourning salute consists of three times the "royal" salute, for a total of 27 shots.
Keep in mind that PH is equal, though not in title, with a Danish queen consort, and a queen consort is a majesty and as such saluted like the monarch. Hence 27 shots.

That's also why the monarch always lead the people in giving nine cheers (hurrah) for Denmark from the balcony at Amalienborg and the monarch's birthday.
It's a salute that goes back at least 400 years, more likely 500 years.

[Rudolph]

From the Governor General of Canada Julie Payette

“It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Prince Henrik of Denmark. Our sincere condolences go to Queen Margrethe II, their sons Frederik & Joachim, members of their family and the people of Denmark.”

A Buckingham Palace spokesman says the Queen will be sending a private message of condolence to Queen Margrethe of Denmark after the death of Prince Henrik.

Via Richard Palmer Twitter

[polyesco]

Article with an outline for upcoming events
Kongehuset: Prins Henrik bisættes den 20. februar - asken skal deles i to - TV 2

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfLxmiUn...ource=ig_embed

[ROYAL NORWAY]

DR: The former master of ceremonies Christian Eugen-Olsen (the guy I mentioned in the above post) said on DR1 that he's glad that PH whises to be cremated, with half his ashes being spread over the sea, and the other half being put in an urn and buried at Fredensborg. - Why? Because that shows that he saw himself as Danish. He repeats that ''PH is a Dane and has always felt like a Dane''.

And one of the other journalists on DR even decribed him as ''beloved'' earlier today (that really surprised me a bit). He is also being praised as a ''good ambassador for Denmark''.

TV2: Their foreign correspondent Ulla Terkelsen (also a favourite of mine) praised PH earlier today. - She said that most danes liked the fact that he was his french self (and the fact that he wasn't afraid to say something if he felt poorly treated).

The Danish television coverage is IMO about 99% positive towards him. - And yes, I knew he would be praised in death, but not to this extent (I think he would have loved it).


Now they said on TV Avisen (DR's main news program) that there is a very popular prince who has died (perhaps more popular than he himself knowed, the reporter said).

[Pranter]

Do we expect any of the BRF to attend the funeral?



LaRae

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

A Buckingham Palace spokesman says the Queen will be sending a private message of condolence to Queen Margrethe of Denmark after the death of Prince Henrik.

Via Richard Palmer Twitter

If it is a "private message", I understand the text of the message won't be released to the public, correct ? The King of Spain apparently also sent QMII a private message which was not disclosed. The Kings of Sweden and Norway, who are much closer to the DRF, chose instead to post public condolence messages.

I expect other European monarchs to send private messages as well.

Originally Posted by Pranter

Do we expect any of the BRF to attend the funeral?



LaRae

I don't think so. The Danish court has announced that PH wanted a low-key, private funeral with only friends and family in attendance. I expect the Swedish , Greek and maybe Norwegian royal couples to attend, but, otherwise, I don't think any other foreign royals will be present.

[Dman]

I think The Queen and Prince Philip will send someone to represent them.

[Prisma]

May he rest in peace. My thoughts and condolences to Queen Margrethe, family, and friends.

Thank you Muhler and everyone for translating and posting articles, stories, updates, and all.

[Osipi]

I'd like to chime in a bit here about how differently Buddhism looks at death. Its different in the respect that there isn't the belief that we live once, die and go Home. Death, rather than an ending to something, is a continuation. I think this reflects it nicely.

A snowflake is unique. There is never another snowflake that is exactly the same. Yet, as individual snowflakes are, all together they form snow. No one says "look at that pile of snowflakes". They say "look at that mountain of snow!" The sun comes out and melts the snowflakes and they change form into water that nourishes the earth or perhaps join a river or stream. Under that same sun, the rivers and streams evaporate and rise high into the air and change form again. This time into a cloud. As the clouds become heavy with the moisture, and if the temperature is just right, the clouds once again change form and become snowflakes once again with each one being unique. And such is life.

We never, ever stop being.

[wyevale]

The Royal Danish House has announced that the Royal Court will have a month of mourning. Dark colours will be worn as the Queen and Royal Family (with the Court) will not participate "in social or entertaining events." It will end March 14.

[An Ard Ri]

Denmark's Prince Henrik 'dies aged 83' from Euronews

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSm4oy3zkXk

[queenofcelts]

My thoughts are with family May he rest in peace

[Hans-Rickard]

Originally Posted by Pranter

Do we expect any of the BRF to attend the funeral?



LaRae

To be honest as this is planned as a low key family funeral, we don't know if any royals at all outside of the immediate family will attend. The Danish Royal Family is closest to the Swedish and Norwegian Royal Families but there are links to the British as well so we will see what happens...

I wouldn't be surprised to see The Prince of Wales or The Earl of Wessex being invited but more as personal friends than in an official capacity.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

DR: The former master of ceremonies Christian Eugen-Olsen (the guy I mentioned in the above post) said on DR1 that he's glad that PH whises to be cremated, with half his ashes being spread over the sea, and the other half being put in an urn and buried at Fredensborg. - Why? Because that shows that he saw himself as Danish. He repeats that ''PH is a Dane and has always felt like a Dane''.

And one of the other journalists on DR even decribed him as ''beloved'' earlier today (that really surprised me a bit). He is also being praised as a ''good ambassador for Denmark''.

TV2: Their foreign correspondent Ulla Terkelsen (also a favourite of mine) praised PH earlier today. - She said that most danes liked the fact that he was his french self (and the fact that he wasn't afraid to say something if he felt poorly treated).

The Danish television coverage is IMO about 99% positive towards him. - And yes, I knew he would be praised in death, but not to this extent (I think he would have loved it).

The Danish TV-coverage in special is 24/7 right now on most channels! In fact I've only tuned in at the main news updates but it's bordering on hysteria, even for a hardcore royalist like myself.
And you can hear it on the journalists, they are talking themselves into a frenzy. Hence why they are using expression that IMO are over the top.
If the ducks in the city parks hadn't sought refuge in the middle on the lakes, they would right now be asked to comment on the death of PH and what he meant to them!

I would not use the word beloved about PH. As a rural Jutlander that is an extremely strong word, we don't use every decade about anyone. (Serious!)
PH was interesting. he was very popular indeed, when he was popular, and pretty unpopular when he wasn't.
He had the enviable ability to interact with everyone, just like Frederik, and he could suddenly ditch his PET officers and go to a hippie enclave strolling around the very illegal hashish stands there. And people loved and cheered him for it. (Including myself).
Then he could throw it all away by complaining about his status. And keep in mind, this was years ago.
He could jump of a helicopter, go for a pee in open view and then shake people's hands afterwards. And it was wonderfully male and so unroyal and so incorrect.
Then he could ruin it all by having a fit because he felt his own son usurped him. A mindset that is very alien from the Danish mindset. Almost incomprehensible in fact.
Then he could do such a typical grandad thing like luring his grandchildren to offer him a piece of their candy, only to take a huge bite.

(...)

PH is dead, after having been ill. Dementia is an illness, so he got a lot of sympathy. Also now, and also because you really don't say something bad about people who have just died. You tend to remember the sides of the person you liked. That's natural.
I wonder however if PH would have been labelled "beloved" had he died two days after QMII's 75th birthday where he was seen by the public as snubbing QMII because he couldn't be king. - Keep in mind that the first time he voiced his misgivings in that respect in public was in 1992. At that point it's pretty safe to say that he was very unpopular.

So listening to all the praise he's getting I can't help thinking: Yes, PH had his good sides, very good sides in fact! But let's not overdo it. - He was after all only human.
And that I think is a good epitaph.

[MidwestMom]

(...) An observation about the funeral service: I understand and support the family's wishes, but I do hope that a program of the funeral service will be made public. If that happens, maybe one of our Danish friends will post it here? I would be very interested to see the music that will be used.