Prince Henrik, the Prince Consort (1934-2018)

[JessRulz]

Arms of HRH Prince Henrik, the Prince Consort​

Welcome to the thread for
the late Prince Henrik, Prince Consort

* Talence, France 11 June, 1934 - Fredensborg Palace, Denmark 13 February, 2018 *
​

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[Muhler]

This really belongs in the dementia thread, but that has been locked.

https://www.bt.dk/royale/susanne-heering-om-prins-henriks-sidste-nytaarsaften-han-var-saa-glad

The very close friend of QMII, Susanne Heering, has just turned 80 and on that occasion she has said a few things about the close relation with the DRF.
The Heering family being such close friends of the DRF, you can rest assured Susanne Heering does not say anything that is not OK with the DRF.

Here about the last New Years Eve the closest circle of friends spend with the Regent Couple.

"Now I'm just so glad that I hosted that New Years Eve. It was actually the last time many of us saw the Prince. He was so happy (as in very good mood) and they were so happy together. It was a wonderful evening."
Nu er jeg bare så glad for, at jeg holdt den nytårsaften. Det var faktisk sidste gang, mange af os så prinsen. Han var så glad, og de var så glade sammen. Det var en vidunderlig aften

She adds:
"He was in fine form. He enjoyed the evening, was entertaining and very sweet."
Han var i god form. Han nød aftenen, var underholdende og meget sød,

She will not go into details about how she experienced PH's dementia towards the end. She was however very sorry to read what was said about him before the diagnosis was made public:
"He was such a lovely person."

About the Heering family's close relationship with the DRF, she says:
"It has sort of been inherited for generations. It's not something that has been arranged. It has simply felt natural that way."
Det er ligesom gået i arv i generationer. Det er ikke noget, der er blevet arrangeret. Det er bare faldet naturligt sådan,

- In another BT article she praises M&F and express great confidence in Frederik becoming a good king.

 

[Tarlita]

Thats nice, thank you Muhler. I believe people suffer dementia for quite awhile before it is diagnosed. I do feel that your beautiful Queen must miss him dreadfully.

 

[Muhler]

Absolutely, Tarlita.

And it's not only relatives who suffer when someone goes down with dementia, but also close friends, and that must be equally painful for them as well.
It's so easy to only focus on the family in such cases.

 

[eya]

Prince Henrik's collections at auction in August 2019. Part of the proceeds will go to the two royal funds, the Crown Prince's Couple Fund and Nikolai and Felix Foundation.

Prins Henriks samlinger på auktion | Kongehuset

 

[Muhler]

Thank you, Eya. ?

Yes, that is in accordance with PH's will.

The DRF have kept a number of items from his very extensive collection of around 6.000 pieces! The rest will be up for auction.

 

[polyesco]

How nice that part of the proceeds will go to these two funds. Hopefully Nikolai and Felix get a little more involved in their fund. Attend the presentations at least

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The same did happen after the deaths of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Thousands of their private belongings were auctioned for 4 chosen charities. The charities chosen by te late Prince Henrik will be happy indeed.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

How nice that part of the proceeds will go to these two funds. Hopefully Nikolai and Felix get a little more involved in their fund. Attend the presentations at least

I hope so too - the foundation is in their name after all, so it would be lovely to see Nikolai and Felix attend at least one event.

 

[MARG]

Thank you, Eya. [emoji2]

Yes, that is in accordance with PH's will.

The DRF have kept a number of items from his very extensive collection of around 6.000 pieces! The rest will be up for auction.

What an amazing and very practical yo take care of that which to you is special but to others is perhaps not to their taste.

Seems Swedish Death Cleaning is not only a Swedish thing.

 

[Muhler]

Never heard of Swedish Death Cleaning before. ?
You learn something new every day.

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #19, 2019.
Written by Ulrik Ulriksen.

In accordance with the very detailed will of PH, his extensive collection of jade and African art will be put up for auction.

A number of pieces have been kept by the family and a number of choice pieces will remain at Chateau Cayx.

The surplus from the auction will go to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's Foundation as well as the Nikolai and Felix Foundation.

It will be the auction house of Bruun Rasmussen who will handle the auction in August 2019. The Bruun Rasmussen family is well acquainted with the DRF. In fact it is the daughter of the owner, Alexa Bruun Rasmussen, who will be the auctioneer.
It is assumed there will be two physical auctions as well as a couple of online auctions, but the details are not yet in place.
A list of items is expected to be published in early August.

 

[Muhler]

The IMO currently best royal reporter on BB, Trine Larsen, has been remembering PH and the relationship between them, that over the years developed into a professional friendship.
Each year on her birthday, he sang the birthday song for her.

- A nice touch you rarely see between royals and royal reporters.

 

[JR76]

The IMO currently best royal reporter on BB, Trine Larsen, has been remembering PH and the relationship between them, that over the years developed into a professional friendship.
Each year on her birthday, he sang the birthday song for her.

- A nice touch you rarely see between royals and royal reporters.

For those members of the forums that understand Danish I can highly recommend the podcast "Danmarks royale podcast" where Trine was a guest a few weeks ago and told about her memories of the Prince. It was apparent how fond of him she were.

 

[Muhler]

For those members of the forums that understand Danish I can highly recommend the podcast "Danmarks royale podcast" where Trine was a guest a few weeks ago and told about her memories of the Prince. It was apparent how fond of him she were.

Very recommended, yes!

IIRC she was also present inside the church at the funeral ceremony for the friends - in her capacity as a friend and not a reporter.
A rare thing between a royal reporter and a senior royal.

 

[polyesco]

Never heard of Swedish Death Cleaning before. ?
You learn something new every day.

Summary of article in Billed Bladet #19, 2019.
Written by Ulrik Ulriksen.

In accordance with the very detailed will of PH, his extensive collection of jade and African art will be put up for auction.

A number of pieces have been kept by the family and a number of choice pieces will remain at Chateau Cayx.

The surplus from the auction will go to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's Foundation as well as the Nikolai and Felix Foundation.

It will be the auction house of Bruun Rasmussen who will handle the auction in August 2019. The Bruun Rasmussen family is well acquainted with the DRF. In fact it is the daughter of the owner, Alexa Bruun Rasmussen, who will be the auctioneer.
It is assumed there will be two physical auctions as well as a couple of online auctions, but the details are not yet in place.
A list of items is expected to be published in early August.

VIDEO: See Prince Henrik's art collection at auction
https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/video-se-prins-henriks-kunstsamling-paa-auktion

 

[carlota]

excited to see PH's collection, how interesting he chose to auction it rather than keeping it in the family. i also didn't know there was a 'Nikolai and Felix Foundation', or that PH was an avid collector of jade and african art.

i believe mary bought via Bruun Rasmussen a number of antique jewelry, including her edwardian tiara.

 

[Muhler]

The first auction is about to start and three items in particular have caused considerable interest beforehand and the preliminary bids have already surpassed the estimated value.
https://www.bt.dk/royale/prins-henr...aerligt-en-genstand-har-i-den-grad-overrasket

This auction has caused considerable interest here in DK, even among ordinary people, because there are so many items and most are affordable, also for ordinary Danes - many of whom might very well like a little memento of PH.

ADDED:

This the first auction has been a success!
https://jyllands-posten.dk/kultur/E...l-auktion-over-prins-henriks-private-samling/

Not only were there many serious bidders, both Danish and foreign, some even who knew PH personally.
And quite a lot of ordinary Danes, some of whom have never to an auction before.

- I think that must be so comforting for QMII and the rest of the family.
Because despite the fact that PH was a very colorful and sometimes even controversial figure, he was also genuinely liked by the public.
Sometimes you wanted to have a beer (or perhaps rather a glass of wine with him,) and laugh with him, and at other times you wanted to hit him, repeatedly, on the head with a shovel.
I'm glad PH got to experience that he was liked (most of the time) for the last couple of decades of his life. - That he perhaps misunderstood that popularity with a support for his pet-project - being given the title of king - is regrettable.
It's good that PH, in a way, will end up in many private and ordinary homes. I think he would have liked that. It's not a bad legacy.

 

[maria-olivia]

This should be on the thread of Royal Auctions.
I am a Costumer of Bruun Rasmussen , I logged it.
Oriental Jade part I , right now , more than the double of their Estimation. Always like this when it comes from Royals.
It was The owner who is the Commiseur Priseur. Great Deal for his Auction House

 

[Muhler]

I hope you find something you like. ?

This auction has been given quite a lot of coverage.
Not least because PH also collected erotic art, especially among his jade-collection.
That includes phallus-symbols. There are really not that many, that are a part of fertility symbols that is found in most cultures.
But this being PH, they do of course get attention. It's not like people are falling down the chairs that a royal was in possession of such artifacts, people are more interested in the cultural aspect actually. African and oriental art not being that well-known among ordinary Danes.
But see for yourselves.

WARNING. The article depicts photos of phallus symbols.
https://www.bt.dk/kendte/prins-henr...dler-derfor-samlede-prinsen-paa-erotisk-kunst

ADDED.

The auction has been a success so far, with the items generally being sold at way above estimated value.https://www.bt.dk/kendte/prins-henr...som-varmt-broed-nogle-af-tingene-stak-helt-af

 

[Nordic]

WARNING. The article depicts photos of phallus symbols.
https://www.bt.dk/kendte/prins-henr...dler-derfor-samlede-prinsen-paa-erotisk-kunst

Photos of phallus symbols? Ok, ?

 

[gerry]

WARNING. The article depicts photos of phallus symbols.
https://www.bt.dk/kendte/prins-henr...dler-derfor-samlede-prinsen-paa-erotisk-kunst

Photos of phallus symbols? Ok, ?

I am entertained by the Prince Consort's taste in jade but I believe his interest in phallic symbols is also informed by the best jade already available in a somewhat more mundane form: thanks to the Imperial Museum in Taipei!
https://thetravelmemoir.files.wordp...736_568854089979473_6898264621849772032_n.jpg

 

[maria-olivia]

When I saw the Auction in live, 1000 Kr , 1000 Kr more , the estimation was very low.An Ordinary Dane should not buy and I am not interested Mr Muhler!
I said to myself Denmark gave a lot to Prince Henrik.
To day part 2.

I saw part 2.
The Winner is the Auction House Bruun Rasmussen . Who bought the Prince Collection?
I hope Museums and collectors.
Himself was a jade Collector . It started when he was young and lived in Indochine.

He said he never had money ...
Don't tell me his collection were all presents. He knew quite well what he bought and had the money for.

 

[Muhler]

I saw part 2.
The Winner is the Auction House Bruun Rasmussen . Who bought the Prince Collection?
I hope Museums and collectors.
Himself was a jade Collector . It started when he was young and lived in Indochine.

He said he never had money ...
Don't tell me his collection were all presents. He knew quite well what he bought and had the money for.

Oh, he did buy most of his collection. The African collection I imagine he very much bought on location so to speak. I.e. when he was in Africa and visited markets there. I guess many items could be acquired for a reasonable price.
And I recently read that he bid on online auctions, with considerable excitement actually, so presumably he made a fixed bid.

Anyway, the auction has now ended:
https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/...rikauktion-er-slut-alle-genstande-blev-solgt/

All 883 items have been sold.
Many items went at double or triple or in a few cases for as much a ten times the estimated value. So the auction house is very pleased.
They will not disclose however how much money changed hand.

Later on an additional 3.000 items will be sold on online auctions. But according to an article I read at the BB site, the auction house is considering a new physical auction instead.
But until then these 3.000 or so items will need to be evaluated and cleaned.

 

[JulieS]

Waiting for your translation

Here are tow additional articles about the auction. They are so interesting I will return to them tomorrow, it's getting late.

https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/d...ion-om-prins-henriks-kunstsamling-i-fuld-gang

This one in particular deserve a translation:
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/j...-prins-henriks-masker-de-viser-han-var-morsom

To be edited.

 

[Muhler]

Here are three additional articles about the auction. They are interesting.
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/d...ion-om-prins-henriks-kunstsamling-i-fuld-gang

This one in particular deserve a translation:
This is about the self-proclaimed super-royalist, Jim Lyngvild. The one with the busts of QMII and Frederik. He too went to the auctions and bought two of PH's African masks.
He ended up paying more that twice the estimated value.
"When I saw these masks - one big a bit coarse maske and another smaller, a little fine, mask - I thought that looks like the Queen and Prince Henrik, so they were going home to hang at Ravnsborg." (*)

The collection very much reflects the humor of PH:
"It's corny/poor taste to say, but notice how many penis-figures there are in the collection. The man had super-much humor and that is reflected in this collection.
It telss that the Prince had a genuine knowledge about this. But the things he chose to buy aren't just neat and decorative. It's the soul of Africa - and also the ugly bits. And that's what turns me on about this collection - that it was passion rather than an interest in selling it and earn money on it. To be allowed to buy some of it, is like stepping into the brain of an artistic soul, and you must have respect and be humble about that. "

Jim Lyngvild remember i private dinner with PH he attended the year before pH died. The two of them discussed art, while PH kept an eye on a bid for a piece of African art on an online auction:
"He was sitting there bidding, being excited like a small child as to whether he would get it."

https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/j...-prins-henriks-masker-de-viser-han-var-morsom

Another is about a good friend of PH, antiques-dealer Oliver Klitgaard, who is also a collector of jade, although his collection is much smaller than PH's.
The two of them went hunting for jade-items in China.
In the article Oliver Klitgaard is holding a piece of Jade that was meant for PH and which he showed off the day before PH died. He has now kept it in memory of PH.

"To the great amusement of those we bought from he often pulled out his hunting knife and tried to cut in the pieces of Jade we were looking at. Jade is a hard rock and it isn't possible to cut the stone with stainless steel."

But it did actually happen that they came across items that were not real jade.

At the markets PH gathered a crowd around him as a matter of course.
"They never came over to me. He must have had an aura around him. He always gathered a crowd around himself."

A second photo is from a winter in Beijing, where PH and Oliver Klitgaard had a closer look at pretty much the only jade seller at the market that day.
"It shows how much he was into this."

The auction is very hard on Oliver Klitgaard:
"It's after all 20 years of memories that are being sold. Thousands of kilometers we have walked in order to find the right pieces of jade."

https://www.bt.dk/kendte/prins-henriks-gode-ven-har-det-svaert-med-auktionen

(*) Ravnsborg is the home of Jim Lyngvild and his husband, designed by himself in the style of the Viking. Jim Lyngvild adheres to the Asa faith, which is the faith of the old norse gods. That is an official acknowledged religion in DK, meaning they are allowed to perform valid marriages and burials.
Jim Lyngvild is a colorful character so it's no wonder he and PH got together!
he is among many things also a fashion designer and he has recently been a consultant in designing Viking clothes for an exhibition at the National Museum.
Here are a number of photos of Ravnsborg:
https://www.invita.dk/imagevault/publishedmedia/ozt2g372xom993nfkbm5/_G4A3140.jpg
His Asa-temple:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cNhl_cx5...qy8EwjggPr5K5_ZiLQqwCLcBGAs/s1600/gudehov.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bf/be/c8/bfbec810dd10339e6a2613ad94393b27.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XzBkq78cnMU/maxresdefault.jpg
http://www.detrigtigefaaborg.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/6-1068x710.jpg
https://images.fyens.dk/33/3728333_1200_0_0_81_4000_2500_2.jpg
Viking fashion exhibited at the National Museum
https://natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tccards/meet_the_vikings_web_16x9.jpg
https://ekstrabladet.dk/incoming/49zibx/7029667/IMAGE_ALTERNATES/p910/jim-lyngvild
https://asset.dr.dk/imagescaler01/h...lven_lyngvild2.jpg&w=1200&675&scaleAfter=crop
https://pov.international/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Screenshot-2018-11-18-at-09.12.55.png
https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/s...s/main-wide-944/public/2018/12/1543959226.png

 

[gerry]

Here are three additional articles about the auction. They are interesting.
https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/d...ion-om-prins-henriks-kunstsamling-i-fuld-gang

This one in particular deserve a translation:
This is about the self-proclaimed super-royalist, Jim Lyngvild. The one with the busts of QMII and Frederik. He too went to the auctions and bought two of PH's African masks.
He ended up paying more that twice the estimated value.
"When I saw these masks - one big a bit coarse maske and another smaller, a little fine, mask - I thought that looks like the Queen and Prince Henrik, so they were going home to hang at Ravnsborg." (*)

The collection very much reflects the humor of PH:
"It's corny/poor taste to say, but notice how many penis-figures there are in the collection. The man had super-much humor and that is reflected in this collection.
It telss that the Prince had a genuine knowledge about this. But the things he chose to buy aren't just neat and decorative. It's the soul of Africa - and also the ugly bits. And that's what turns me on about this collection - that it was passion rather than an interest in selling it and earn money on it. To be allowed to buy some of it, is like stepping into the brain of an artistic soul, and you must have respect and be humble about that. "

Jim Lyngvild remember i private dinner with PH he attended the year before pH died. The two of them discussed art, while PH kept an eye on a bid for a piece of African art on an online auction:
"He was sitting there bidding, being excited like a small child as to whether he would get it."

https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/indland/j...-prins-henriks-masker-de-viser-han-var-morsom

Another is about a good friend of PH, antiques-dealer Oliver Klitgaard, who is also a collector of jade, although his collection is much smaller than PH's.
The two of them went hunting for jade-items in China.
In the article Oliver Klitgaard is holding a piece of Jade that was meant for PH and which he showed off the day before PH died. He has now kept it in memory of PH.

"To the great amusement of those we bought from he often pulled out his hunting knife and tried to cut in the pieces of Jade we were looking at. Jade is a hard rock and it isn't possible to cut the stone with stainless steel."

But it did actually happen that they came across items that were not real jade.

At the markets PH gathered a crowd around him as a matter of course.
"They never came over to me. He must have had an aura around him. He always gathered a crowd around himself."

A second photo is from a winter in Beijing, where PH and Oliver Klitgaard had a closer look at pretty much the only jade seller at the market that day.
"It shows how much he was into this."

The auction is very hard on Oliver Klitgaard:
"It's after all 20 years of memories that are being sold. Thousands of kilometers we have walked in order to find the right pieces of jade."

https://www.bt.dk/kendte/prins-henriks-gode-ven-har-det-svaert-med-auktionen

(*) Ravnsborg is the home of Jim Lyngvild and his husband, designed by himself in the style of the Viking. Jim Lyngvild adheres to the Asa faith, which is the faith of the old norse gods. That is an official acknowledged religion in DK, meaning they are allowed to perform valid marriages and burials.
Jim Lyngvild is a colorful character so it's no wonder he and PH got together!
he is among many things also a fashion designer and he has recently been a consultant in designing Viking clothes for an exhibition at the National Museum.
Here are a number of photos of Ravnsborg:
https://www.invita.dk/imagevault/publishedmedia/ozt2g372xom993nfkbm5/_G4A3140.jpg
His Asa-temple:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cNhl_cx5...qy8EwjggPr5K5_ZiLQqwCLcBGAs/s1600/gudehov.jpg
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bf/be/c8/bfbec810dd10339e6a2613ad94393b27.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XzBkq78cnMU/maxresdefault.jpg
http://www.detrigtigefaaborg.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/6-1068x710.jpg
https://images.fyens.dk/33/3728333_1200_0_0_81_4000_2500_2.jpg
Viking fashion exhibited at the National Museum
https://natmus.dk/uploads/tx_tccards/meet_the_vikings_web_16x9.jpg
https://ekstrabladet.dk/incoming/49zibx/7029667/IMAGE_ALTERNATES/p910/jim-lyngvild
https://asset.dr.dk/imagescaler01/h...lven_lyngvild2.jpg&w=1200&675&scaleAfter=crop
https://pov.international/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Screenshot-2018-11-18-at-09.12.55.png
https://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/s...s/main-wide-944/public/2018/12/1543959226.png

Mange tak Muhler! Such an interesting story about the Ravnsborg and its owner; I shall be watching for more information about this gentleman as I am very interested in the Viking culture that Canada shares with Denmark!

 

[Muhler]

Then he will be an interesting guy to go to, gerry. ?

The tabloid BT has estimated the total amount that came in from the sale of the first 800 of PH's items.
The estimation says 9.000.000 DKK, minus taxes, fee to the auction house and expenses.
- That's a pretty decent amount for a collection that didn't consist of the most expensive or rare items.
https://www.bt.dk/royale/millionerne-vaeltede-ind-saa-meget-indbragte-prins-henriks-samling

And there are still more than 5.000 items left to go on auction.

9 million DKK = very roughly one million Pounds.
1,25 million €
1.75 million $

 

[Muhler]

The third auction of PH's collection of masks and jade has taken place and all items were sold.
Most remained in DK, but there were some foreign bidders as well.
The most expensive item, a jade-duck, went for 16.000 DKK.

https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/saadan-gik-salget-af-prins-henriks-kunstsamling

I think PH would have been pleased that the auction went so well and also that so many items have now found their ways to so many private homes of ordinary Danes. Because the prices were affordable for ordinary people.
That's actually a good way to be remembered by many IMO.

 

[JR76]

I think would have been pleased that the auction went so well and also that so many items have now found their ways to so many private homes of ordinary Danes. Because the prices were affordable for ordinary people.
That's actually a good way to be remembered by many IMO.

I think Prince Henrik would have liked the fact that he's now become part of the homes of so many ordinary Danes. Although he got a bad rep during the last few years of his life before that he was popular (populær & folkelig) in both meanings of the word. I'm a member of several Copenhagen groups on Facebook and stories about him popping up in the most unusual places are shared every now and then.
Looking in from across the water it seems that after his dementia became public knowledge, and thereby explained much of his peculiar behaviour during the last few years of his life, the Danes have taken him to their hearts again?

 

[Muhler]

I think Prince Henrik would have liked the fact that he's now become part of the homes of so many ordinary Danes. Although he got a bad rep during the last few years of his life before that he was popular (populær & folkelig) in both meanings of the word. I'm a member of several Copenhagen groups on Facebook and stories about him popping up in the most unusual places are shared every now and then.
Am I right in believing that after his dementia became public knowledge, and thereby explained much of his peculiar behaviour during the last few years of his life, the Danes have taken him to their hearts again?

That certainly is my impression.

It was also a paradox, because at one side PH was genuinely popular by a large and growing number, during the last decade of his life in particular. Not least after his frank biography in the book Destiny Oblige, but especially because he was quirky, somewhat eccentric and sometimes also refreshingly old-fashioned. While at the same time being willing to try things that "one" certainly did not do! Like visiting the hippie-commune (and hashish-central) of Christiania without security.
He had his faults, but he was never a snob. And he had the enviable ability to be able to talk to anyone anytime.
On the other hand he had views and obsessions that went totally contrary to the average Danish mindset. I.e. his status, title and position within the family. Things that are pretty alien to the mindset of most Danes. And the way he as such embarrassed QMII, who after all is tremendously respected, also before he could have developed dementia, infuriated many - and also embarrassed the tribe as a whole so to speak.

Perhaps you could loosely share some of the anecdotes you have learned? ?