Etienne de Monpezat, who BTW is a former journalist, speaks English. I can't say to what level, but certainly good English.
It's an understandable reply IMO.
That's a response I think most people would make. If I were to be asked by say a neighbor about one of my sisters, who would be in the same situation as PH, I think an automatic response from me would be similar to Etienne de Montpezat's.
It would be a totally different matter if this was a quote from Lene Balleby from the PR office of the court.
However, once Etienne de Monpezat has visited his brother, his first quote will be most interesting.
https://www.bt.dk/royale/prins-henriks-naere-ven-det-er-gaaet-meget-hurtigt-jeg-har-bange-anelser
Another quote. This time from former defense chief, lieutenant general Kjeld Hillingsøe. His wife is a childhood friend of QMII. His daughter is a close friend of M&F and he himself is also close to the DRF.
He gave a surprisingly detailed and frank interview to TV2 the other day, including describing PH on New Years Eve.
And about New Years Eve:
"He was completely clear in the head. I'm no master in playing bridge, but he managed that in overwhelming style.
It's been very fast. That I hadn't expected".
Han var fuldstændig klar i hovedet. Jeg er ikke nogen ørn til at spille bridge, men han klarede det i overvældende stil. Det er gået meget hurtigt. Det havde jeg ikke forventet,
He continues, assessing the situation:
"You can look at what has happened. The Crown Prince has returned from the Winter Olympics, and the sister of the Prince and two brothers are coming up from France. That doesn't happen unless it's very serious. You don't need a particular insight in order to tell that it is serious.
I presume we will be told when there are changes. Apart from the fact that my wife is a childhood friend of the Queen, our situation isn't different from so many others - it's not like we have a direct line, where we are told about the situation of the Prince. We don't call and disturb the Queen. You don't do that".
Man kan se på, hvad der er foregået. Kronprinsen er vendt tilbage fra Vinter-OL, og prinsens søster og to brødre kommer op fra Frankrig. Det sker ikke, hvis det ikke er meget alvorligt. Jeg har bange anelser. Man behøver ikke have særlig indsigt for at se, at det er alvorligt,« siger han og fortæller, at han selv afventer nyt om situationen.»Jeg formoder, at vi får noget at vide, når der sker ændringer. Udover at min kone er barndomsveninde med dronningen, er vores situation ikke anderledes end så mange andres - det er ikke sådan, at vi har en direkte linje, hvor vi får besked om prinsens situation. Vi ringer ikke og forstyrrer Dronningen. Det gør man ikke.«
He reflects on the fact that QMII is a concerned wife as well as head of state in the current situation:
"You are of course touched when one's good friends become ill.
Added to that comes the role he (PH) play in regards to the nation - the colossal role he plays in the life of the Queen.
I've reached the age where mates begin to drop out, and there we can tell how it moved those left behind in regards to recovering from losing your spouse. So I absolutely think a lot about how the Queen is in this situation".
Når ens gode venner bliver syge, bliver man selvfølgelig berørt. Hertil kommer den rolle, han (prins Henrik, red.) spiller i forhold til nationen - den kolossale rolle, han spiller i dronningens liv. Jeg er kommet i den alder, hvor kammeraterne begynder at falde fra, og der kan vi se, hvordan det berører de efterladte i forhold til at overvinde, at ens ægtefælle er faldet bort. Så jeg tænker absolut meget på, hvordan Dronningen har det i denne situation.
But QMII will overcome:
"It's in her upbringing. The members of the royal family are brought up to carry all burdens that may fall upon them, so that it doesn't affect the ability to carry through with the office".
Det ligger i hendes opdragelse. Den kongelige families medlemmer er opdrage til at bære alle byrder, der måtte påføres dem, så det ikke går ud over evnen til at videreføre embedet,«
