Prince Henrik Retiring from Official Duties as of January 1, 2016

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Rudolph

This must come as a blow. Just months ago he was still going on about being king and now he's not even prince consort.

This is being viewed as punitive?

Not among the experts and whatever the papers have asked. They have all sorts of interpretations, going from this underlining PH's new status as a retiree, to him making a statement, to this being an indication of "if I can't be king, forget it! I'll just be a ordinary prince".

But the word on the street is leaning towards QMII really putting her foot down and saying "that's it!" to PH. In other words: he was retired rather than retiring.

But again, anyone's guess is as good as mine.

Right now I'm beginning to lean more towards QMII having had enough and when PH perhaps again-again talked about rather retiring since he's a nobody anyway, QMII took him at his word, probably leaving him stunned.
I must admit there is a little devil whispering in my ear that PH embarked on his trek hoping he would "be missed" and "called back" and when that didn't happen he returned to DK and took on a couple of official duties to "smooth" things out a bit. But to no avail, he's now officially a retiree. Period!
The DRF can be a pretty stubborn lot! And I think when QMII really gets mad PH, like most husbands, better dive for cover!
I still believe she loves him dearly, but that doesn't mean she can't be mad and act accordingly and PH may have painted himself into a corner. So now he's a mere Prince.

A good story, eh?
But to be honest, that's where I stand at the moment and I'm probably wrong.

[camelot23ca]

The issue of Henrik's retirement, or whatever it is, has been the rare PR blunder from the Danish royal family and court. It shouldn't have been a surprise announcement in QM's New Years speech. There should have been more clarity provided right from the start regarding the reasons for the retirement and how Henrik planned to spend his time off. At the very least he should have considered not immediately launching into an extended period of international travel. Now the flip flopping with the title.

The only saving grace I can see is that Henrik is old and known to be temperamental, and Frederik and Mary have been gradually playing more prominent roles over the last few years. At least Henrik can be difficult without causing a major disruption in the day to day running of official royal life.

[Muhler]

Unless the decision to make PH a mere Prince was taken after he returned from his walkabout.
Then it makes sense IMO.

Still listening to what my devil on the shoulder whisper in my ear, I can imagine QMII and PH having another "debate" about his status and QMII concluding: "You are retired! You wanted to retire! You let me down! No coming back now, got it?!? - Okay, now let's discuss your title. Prince Henrik has a nice ring to it, hasn't it"?!?

If PH's court and even apanage is slimmed down within the next couple of weeks I think that's another indication of QMII yet again putting her foot down. That will be reinforced if PH does another walkabout or even worse does not appear on the balcony on Saturday.

Had this been a more planned retirement why not announce the change of his title at the New Year speech?

[Emmily]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Not among the experts and whatever the papers have asked. They have all sorts of interpretations, going from this underlining PH's new status as a retiree, to him making a statement, to this being an indication of "if I can't be king, forget it! I'll just be a ordinary prince".

But the word on the street is leaning towards QMII really putting her foot down and saying "that's it!" to PH. In other words: he was retired rather than retiring.

But again, anyone's guess is as good as mine.

Right now I'm beginning to lean more towards QMII having had enough and when PH perhaps again-again talked about rather retiring since he's a nobody anyway, QMII took him at his word, probably leaving him stunned.
I must admit there is a little devil whispering in my ear that PH embarked on his trek hoping he would "be missed" and "called back" and when that didn't happen he returned to DK and took on a couple of official duties to "smooth" things out a bit. But to no avail, he's now officially a retiree. Period!
The DRF can be a pretty stubborn lot! And I think when QMII really gets mad PH, like most husbands, better dive for cover!
I still believe she loves him dearly, but that doesn't mean she can't be mad and act accordingly and PH may have painted himself into a corner. So now he's a mere Prince.

A good story, eh?
But to be honest, that's where I stand at the moment and I'm probably wrong.

I think you are correct, Muhler. The Queen called his bluff and that is that.

[polyesco]

I like your theories Muhler.

Maybe they are doing a bit like the Dutch. When Beatrix abdicated she went from Queen back to princess.
Now the Prince Consort has retired so he is back to prince
(apologizes if I got the dutch situation wrong)

I also lean to the Queen putting her foot down a bit. Making the situation more clear.
And if he does not show up on Saturday, I would support her taking the prince title away and leaving him as simply Henri

[Muhler]

BT has listed the number of times PH has expressed his... dissatisfaction at his status: Se listen: Så mange gange har prins Henrik brokket sig over sin manglende konge-titel

I won't go into details, but they are listed by year.

----

There are at present three likely scenarios:
A) PH's status is an ongoing process since there is no precedence in DRF-history of anyone retiring. Except for a King Erik who abdicated in the 1200's due to him being paralyzed.
It was also pretty sudden, hence the reason why PH's court, apanage and now title is changing on the go, so to speak. - And that happens in full and peaceful consultations with PH himself.

B) PH had a fit and QMII put her foot down, whereupon PH went on his walkabout and upon returning PH was not received as the prodigal son, but instead QMII called his bluff as Emmily put it. - And QMII is still hopping mad!

C) PH upon returning from his walkabout has been sulking and QMII got really mad this time and took him on his word. Basically demoting him.

- It will be very interesting to see what PH will be doing in the next few weeks:
Will he go on another walkabout within the next couple of weeks?
Will he relocate to Chateau Cayz on a de facto permanent basis?
Will he fail to appear on the balcony on Saturday? Even though he is officially mentioned?
Will his apanage suddenly be cut within the next few weeks?
Will his court suddenly be reduced to only an adjutant and a part-time secretary?

If any or more of the above happens within the next few weeks, it's IMO option B & C.
If not it's more likely to be option A.

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Will he fail to appear on the balcony on Saturday? Even though he is officially mentioned?

I still cannot see him being mentioned at the DRF´s website

H.M. Dronningen og den kongelige familie viser sig på balkonen kl. 12.00 | Kongehuset - Forside

[Muhler]

Okay!

But IIRC someone here on this forum wrote somewhere that he was scheduled to appear. The whole family would be there.

UPDATE:

http://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige...ning-margrethe

BB specifically quote the court's webpage for mentioning that the wording was changed from QMII and family appearing on the balcony to the Regent Couple and family.
Has it now been changed back to QMII and family??
The article is from the 11th this month.

PH risk being crucified by the public if he is seen letting down his wife on her birthday again. Especially if the press points out that he has been mentioned by the court as attending.

[FasterB]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Okay!

But IIRC someone here on this forum wrote somewhere that he was scheduled to appear. The whole family would be there.

I have only read it on the webpage of Billed-Bladet ...

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by FasterB

I still cannot see him being mentioned at the DRF´s website

H.M. Dronningen og den kongelige familie viser sig på balkonen kl. 12.00 | Kongehuset - Forside

It is weird
when you click the link, the address bar of the webiste, includes regentparret and family
"/regentparret-og-den-kongelige-familie-viser-sig-paa-balkonen-kl-1200"
but on the event itself its the Queen and family
dont know if it means anything

I hope he does show on Saturday

[gerry]

Originally Posted by polyesco

It is weird
when you click the link, the address bar of the webiste, includes regentparret and family
"/regentparret-og-den-kongelige-familie-viser-sig-paa-balkonen-kl-1200"
but on the event itself its the Queen and family
dont know if it means anything

I hope he does show on Saturday

He will appear; I bet my Saturday cup of coffee on it! (mods: we should have a Royal Forums off-track wagering facility!) I think whoever manages the Royal court website is also hedging any and all possibilities of a (non) Princely appearance but....any man knows when the Boss must be obeyed. The Prince has had due warning, he will not risk more than what he has already lost, mark my words!

[QueenJen]

Since the word Consort is specifically removed, could this indicate there is a more serious and formal marital separation between QMII and PH? Just wondering...

[Curryong]

These are interesting speculations. Perhaps he has decided to completely retire from public life. We'll just have to await developments.

[LadyRohan]

A change in the status of a Royal that chooses to retire, is not completely unheard of, as in the examples of the Dutch monarchs when they retire and so on. However, the lack of clarity when it comes to Prince Henrik, is unusual from a professional Court, both in terms of his retirement itself, and the consequences thereof.
The title of Prince Consort was constructed long after the Queen began her reign, and is somewhat along the lines of Queen-Consort Elizabeth being referred to as the Queen Mother after the death of the King, to avoid confusing her with her daughter reigning under the same name. I seem to remember Prince Henrik in an interview explaining the change with a desire to distinguish and make it clearer who was who, and that the generic term 'the Prince' would not apply to the consort of the Queen.

To remove it in the middle of April, months after his announced retirement, without any explanations, will unavoidably give the impression that this is arbitrary in one way or another. What the change signifies can only be speculated upon, but the confusion that has taken place with the changes to the Princes activities and now status, seems a missed opportunity by the Royal Court to properly and adequately explain an issue that does not make itself clear, when it's based on facts the public do not get to know.

It could indicate a practical separation for a reigning couple, and it might just be a natural step to signify that the Queen is now alone in her duties, and not part of a reigning couple representing the nation. It could be the Prince being punished for his choices, and it could just be the Queen preparing the ground for the Crown Princely couple to take up more space on the royal calendar, and to make it clear that they will henceforth be 2nd behind her, at every event and function. As it stands right now, there is no way we can know.

Had the Court chosen to lay it out clearly, the speculations would had been avoided, and no damage would be done to the monarchy itself. The way it stands now, leaves it open for concerns, debate and criticism, that might not benefit neither the institution, nor the people involved.

[Muhler]

Glancing at the articles today about PH's new title (and there are many!) the majority leave an impression of bewilderment. And as such there are loads of speculations.

There are basically two lines of thought from the various experts (more or less experts). Going from this being a de facto divorce to PH basically sitting down declaring: "That's it! I'm no longer of part of the show", hence his decision to go back to being a Prince. That is attributed to either PH's pride and temper or that he wish to underline with a very big brush that he has retired!

That it should be QMII's decision is not mentioned, presumably because the experts relate to the official statement from the court, which clearly says it was PH's decision.
But as I said yesterday, that however is very much the word on the street.

Common for practically all the articles is confusion. Why the change in his title? Why now? What does it mean?

Interestingly none of the articles blame QMII of anything.

- It's also an ongoing line of speculation for me and right now my best bid is this:
Some time in late November or early December PH went on and on again about not being king. Perhaps saying something along the lines of him better retiring.
QMII, who at this time may have had enough, responded: "Okay. We'll retire you officially from 1st January. That's what you want, right"!?!
And PH would have been standing there with his jaw between his feet. Unable to retract because he would lose face.

PH went on his walkabout in January and February and when he finally returned for Easter, he may have discovered to his disappointment that the sun still rise each morning and that the DRF has adapted to the situation and is moving on without him. And that his eldest son is now number two privately as well as officially...
That may have lead him to have another fit, something like: "Well, I might just as well be dead! I'm nobody! Well, fine! Then I won't have anything to do with the whole show. I'll just be a Prince, since I'm no better than Felix or Vincent". And QMII may have responded: "As you wish. Prince Henrik it is then". And once more PH may have been left standing with his jaw between his feet.

I think PH is like the little boy who threatens to run away from home, but what he really wants is to be cuddled by his mother. Well, this time mother didn't cuddle him...
As Emmily so very well put it: QMII has called his bluff.

But PH is a proud man, so this may actually be a de facto separation, even if they still love each other. I can well imagine he will go to live at Cayz.

All this is of course pure speculation, but the entire Danish tribe is speculating at the moment.

[Viv]

Oh boy, am I fed up with PHs shenanigans!
It's difficult to figure out what's going on behind closed palace doors,
but whatever it is, it's not doing the DRF any favours right now.

This is the 3rd change of his title, if I'm not mistaken!
Now it's back to HRH Prince Henrik, IMHO signalling more Prince than Consort!

viv

[royal rob]

Muhler thanks for giving me a laugh it's like a soap opera isn't it can't wait for the next episode 👏👏


Sent from my iPhone using The Royals Community

[rominet09]

Originally Posted by Countessmeout

I am confused by the move. I thought him stepping back was being sold as him retiring. But this seems like punishment. Can you imagine if Philip was downgraded to Duke of Edinburgh and lost his Prince title because he has been slowing down in his role Maybe there has been too much talk about all the holidays and such he is taking (why he can holiday but too old to accompany his wife any more) and this was a response

I agree with you, it really looks like punishment.

[An Ard Ri]

I wonder if the Prince will be around for the upcoming Queen's birthday?

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by rominet09

I agree with you, it really looks like punishment.

But according to the court, the changing of his title was his own wish.