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

[Viv]

Originally Posted by Muhler

But what about QMII & PH's golden anniversary this year?

Muhler, it's not till 2017!
I suppose they'll wheel him in if necessary!

Apart from that I agree: The next months will be telling!

[Nice Nofret]

In my books, no one who is in his years or has health problems should be called 'selfish, petty' or anything nasty, if he/she deciedes to retiere. Very few people who are past 70 are still working!

I'm in my early 50th, but due to healthproblems I allready had to slow down a lot.

[Tatiana Maria]

Originally Posted by Rocketmom

After all these years, why would he think he would be elevated to King Consort at this time? Is there a precedence for this?

There is no precedent for a male consort in Denmark - Queen Margrethe II is the first reigning queen of Denmark to have a husband during her reign.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Nice Nofret

In my books, no one who is in his years or has health problems should be called 'selfish, petty' or anything nasty, if he/she deciedes to retiere. Very few people who are past 70 are still working!

I'm in my early 50th, but due to healthproblems I allready had to slow down a lot.

With all due respect but you're not married to the Queen of Denmark nor known for your totally unpredictable and rediculous tantrums that terrorize the family to begin with...At least not that we know of...

Nor did you recently enjoy a pay-rise in your apanage like dear Henrik did,and that stays intact due to "his costs"...even after this so-called retirement where as others get less in simular cases...fother for thought and discussion no doubt...

[Roskilde]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Well, this sure has been the talk of the town here in DK!

Now what does that mean for the DRF?
IMO M&F are from today the de facto regent couple. We are going to see them a lot from now on!
Statevisits may be reduced to official visits, by M&F.
Or statevisits will now mean M&F will accompany QMII.
Most if not all the traditional "couples-jobs" will be taken over by M&F.
That very much includes the summer cruises and the traditional visits to Greenland and Faeroe Islands.
They may accompany QMII this year, but by 2017 it will be M&F's show entirely.

It has. It was some of a surprise! Personally, I would found it better to just had mention it in the press release today, I can't see the good in mentioning it in the New Year speech. It IMO suggests that there is something more serious behind.

Your thoughts about what it will mean for the DRF is spot on. I think we will see Frederik and Mary accompany Margrethe a lot now, on state visits and many other events.

For the New Year's Courts on January 5-6th we will now see Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.

Originally Posted by Viv

I'm with Muhler on his 'half-abdication'! -theory! We'll definetely see an increase in the workload of the Crown Princely couple from today. However I'm not fully convinced that it's a 'trial abdication'. I just don't see HM abdicating, even though I'm not opposed to the idea.

Originally Posted by royal rob

I knew something was going to happen that's why Fred and Mary got to have this long trip to Australia they will be extra busy now taking on his duties and supporting the Queen whose health isn't good

Indeed. But it's important to mention that Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary the recent years already have had a very busy and tightly packed calendar for the DRF. While they are very hands-on-parents with young children as well I don't think we will see a much larger activity right now.

IMO we are more going to see the generation change will be even more obvious from now on. And the Danes are pleased and ready for that.

[MidwestMom]

Just a few random thoughts:

Margarethe has no doubt had 'summit meetings' with her sons about this. Oh, to be a fly on the wall!

When QM and PH went to Indonesia last year, I wondered about them taking such a trip at their ages - long plane trip, humid climate (very bad for arthritis) and so on. But they seemed to handle it well. The Greenland trip seemed not to be so hectic.

Henrik is an artist, and artists are sensitive people. Their feelings go so deep that they need to be expressed somehow - through music, sculpture, writing, etc. But then, QM understands that since she is an artist herself.

We have all noticed that both of them are showing their age more and more. As I looked through the gallery, the picture that stood out to me was the last one, at Rev. Parkov's funeral. They both looked very frail, especially Henrik.

I hope he gets to spend more time with his grandchildren, as he seems to enjoy that so much.

Happy New Year, Denmark. Now, on to the New Year's courts!

[Duc_et_Pair]

I am wondered about all the speculations around this. For me Henrik's semi-retirement from public life is natural.

Messire Henri de Laborde de Monpezat so far enjoyed a full and eventful life. In 2015 he was at the funeral of his "little sister" Madame Maurille Beauvillain-De Laborde de Monpezat, whom died after a long battle against cancer. He had said adieu to his father, his mother, various brothers and sisters, only a few of the once 9 children are left. At the funeral of his sister Mme Maurille, the Prince looked very frail and vulnerable. It was as if he realized his world was becoming smaller and smaller, saying farewell to all the loved ones. When he was at the funeral of his youngest sister, the Prince hesitated at the sight of the stairs to the church but with assistance he managed to proceed, step by step, up the stairs...

[Dman]

I think it's been said that Henrik will still support his wofe and attend some events. He's not totally disappearing.

[Muhler]

Politisk flertal: Derfor vil vi ikke skære i Prins Henriks million-ydelse | Nyheder

Here is an article about PH's apanage from TV2 news.

There is general political agreement in not reducing PH's apanage. - Which is hardly surprising as the overall expenses for the DRF remains roughly the same. For all we know they may have to pay full time nurses rather than secretaries now.

The more interesting is of course what the politicians actually say about this.
The PM, Lars Løkke, has praised PH and expressed his best wishes and stated that the apanage will remain the same.

The spokesman for finance issues for the Danish People's Party (the govrnment's most important support party), Rene Christensen, says: "I don't believe we should (cut the apanage). There is no doubt the Prince will still be there to support the Queen, even though from a less visible post".

But the most interesting reaction is this one from the main opposition party, the Social Democrats. Here spokesman for finance, Benny Engelbrecht, says: "We follow the recommendation the Prime Minister has presented. I'm sure that there, as is the norm, has been a dialogue between the DRF and the Prime Minister's office and I'm sure there are very good reasons for the Prime Minister's recommendation".

Translated: The DRF and the government has discussed the matter and agreed upon a solution. - That's also what we could expect.
So this will at least have been a few weeks in the making.

PH's last official job was in November I read somewhere.

It's no secret that PH (and to a good extent QMII as well) has been in semi-retirement for the last couple of years. He has even said so publicly that he is cutting down on his work a few times.
But from being unofficially in retirement to go to officially retired is an interesting step.

- It will certainly quell any further bad press in the future, like PH's absence during QMII's birthday celebrations.
From now on, if he is absent, it's simply because he has retired. - And not because he has "opted" to stay away on purpose or because he has been deemed "unfit" to attend that day.
- That episode was very costly for PH! He had gained in popularity and almost become a cult-figure, not least for the young, because he was in so many ways refreshingly unorthodox.

[wartenberg7]

A remarkable step i a monarchy where retirement was an absolute "no-go" so far! In my (oldfashioned) opinion a monarch or his/ her consort shouldn´t be able to abdicate! The Prince could have gone into "retirement" quietly, scaling down his duties more and more, only to be seen in public on official family occasions like his wife´s birthdays or jubilees, without this official announcement.
Still I think on the other hand he has been such an embarressment to the royal family quite often; so this step isn´t such a shame.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

A remarkable step i a monarchy where retirement was an absolute "no-go" so far! In my (oldfashioned) opinion a monarch or his/ her consort shouldn´t be able to abdicate! The Prince could have gone into "retirement" quietly, scaling down his duties more and more, only to be seen in public on official family occasions like his wife´s birthdays or jubilees, without this official announcement.
Still I think on the other hand he has been such an embarressment to the royal family quite often; so this step isn´t such a shame.

So you practically say that the arrivals of Grand-Duke Henri, Pope Franciscus, King Felipe and King Philippe was not a good idea and that Grand-Duke Jean, Pope Benedictus, King Juan Carlos and King Albert still should have clinged to their thrones, no matter how frail and vulnerable they are at the moment?

Originally Posted by Muhler

Politisk flertal: Derfor vil vi ikke skære i Prins Henriks million-ydelse | Nyheder

Here is an article about PH's apanage from TV2 news.

There is general political agreement in not reducing PH's apanage. - Which is hardly surprising as the overall expenses for the DRF remains roughly the same. For all we know they may have to pay full time nurses rather than secretaries now.

The more interesting is of course what the politicians actually say about this.
The PM, Lars Løkke, has praised PH and expressed his best wishes and stated that the apanage will remain the same.

The spokesman for finance issues for the Danish People's Party (the govrnment's most important support party), Rene Christensen, says: "I don't believe we should (cut the apanage). There is no doubt the Prince will still be there to support the Queen, even though from a less visible post".

But the most interesting reaction is this one from the main opposition party, the Social Democrats. Here spokesman for finance, Benny Engelbrecht, says: "We follow the recommendation the Prime Minister has presented. I'm sure that there, as is the norm, has been a dialogue between the DRF and the Prime Minister's office and I'm sure there are very good reasons for the Prime Minister's recommendation".

Translated: The DRF and the government has discussed the matter and agreed upon a solution. - That's also what we could expect.
So this will at least have been a few weeks in the making.

PH's last official job was in November I read somewhere.

It's no secret that PH (and to a good extent QMII as well) has been in semi-retirement for the last couple of years. He has even said so publicly that he is cutting down on his work a few times.
But from being unofficially in retirement to go to officially retired is an interesting step.

- It will certainly quell any further bad press in the future, like PH's absence during QMII's birthday celebrations.
From now on, if he is absent, it's simply because he has retired. - And not because he has "opted" to stay away on purpose or because he has been deemed "unfit" to attend that day.
- That episode was very costly for PH! He had gained in popularity and almost become a cult-figure, not least for the young, because he was in so many ways refreshingly unorthodox.

I am surprised that -in one go- the costs of the monarchy are discussed on the day of the announcement itself. In the Netherlands after the public retirement of Princess Juliana in 1999 or the ongoing illness of Prince Claus since 1982 I have never heard any parliamentarian nagging that Princess Juliana or Claus should be cut in their income because they have retreated. Strange that in wealthy Denmark this is such an issue on the very same day as the announcement.

[Princess Robijn]

I hope he isn't sick.

[tommy100]

It sounds like the government stated straight away the appanage wouldn't be cut. If i recall correctly it was even stated in the announcement that the Lord Chamberlain made as soon as the NY speech ended on TV, as such I think the Court and Government are getting out in front of the issue first, stating that the appanage won't change before the media have time to think too much about it and start pestering. Sometimes it is better to confront an issue head on and make your position clear rather than let the media make a fuss later on.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Hm... okay. The difference maybe is that in the one country (NL) the incomes are set in Law since 1972 and fixed with the general pay rise. It is purely attached to the position in the Royal House and not a sort of "prestation contract". In NL Parliament has barely any say in the heighth of the incomes as these are related to the incomes of civil servants. In Denmark Parliament determines how much money the members of the royal family get, the civil list annuity per person. Maybe that is the difference, as in Denmark parliamentarians have a direct influence on the incomes, so that maybe is indeed a reason for the Government to be so quick with statements about the income of the Prince.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

I am surprised that -in one go- the costs of the monarchy are discussed on the day of the announcement itself. In the Netherlands after the public retirement of Princess Juliana in 1999 or the ongoing illness of Prince Claus since 1982 I have never heard any parliamentarian nagging that Princess Juliana or Claus should be cut in their income because they have retreated. Strange that in wealthy Denmark this is such an issue on the very same day as the announcement.

I think you misunderstand.
It is not an issue, politically speaking. The main political parties will follow the recommendation of the PM - as they always do in regards to the DRF. Otherwise PH wouldn't have retired officially.
While there is a set procedure in the Netherlands that's not the case in DK.

Not even Queen Ingrid officially retired. She just quietly lessened her workload and eventually stopped appearing and then died.

That's why this is seen as odd here in DK.
PH was already semi-retired and if he couldn't manage a state visit or the summer cruises anymore, he could merely have said so. I doubt anyone would have blamed him, he's 81.
That's why I personally lean towards Alzheimer or something similar. A gradual deterioration of his mind, combined with ever more erratic behavior.
I think he would prefer to be remembered for being slightly eccentric, rather than for standing up during a press conference and declaring that "Dogs have naked ears" or insist on being addressed as king.

There is no fixed line of progress. You can't say that in three months he'll starts walking the corridors at night. Or that he two months later can't remember his children anymore.
So to put it harsh: When he has his good days, he can be allowed out. On bad days, he's "in retirement".

We'll see. In six months we'll be more certain I think.

Of course this will create a precedence for royals retiring and the debate about QMII abdicating will start up again.

[Queen Claude]

I think Henrik's antics, resentments and unpredictability could have played a role in his retirement, regardless the man is over 80 years and is obviously frail and as such I fully agree with and support his retirement. His job certainly was not a physically taxing one, at least not for someone in decent health, and it had loads of perks but again he's over 80 and has been on the job for almost 50 years and I don't begrudge him or any other royal with this length of service choosing to retire. More power to the royals who plan to leave their jobs feet first, but I don't see dishonor in choosing retirement.

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by Muhler

I think you misunderstand.
It is not an issue, politically speaking. The main political parties will follow the recommendation of the PH - as they always do in regards to the DRF. Otherwise PH wouldn't have retired officially.
While there is a set procedure in the Netherlands that's not the case in DK.

Not even Queen Ingrid officially retired. She just quietly lessened her workload and eventually stopped appearing and then died.

That's why this is seen as odd here in DK.
PH was already semi-retired and if he couldn't manage a state visit or the summer cruises anymore, he could merely have said so. I doubt anyone would have blamed him, he's 81.
That's why I personally lean towards Alzheimer or something similar. A gradual deterioration of his mind, combined with ever more erratic behavior.
I think he would prefer to be remembered for being slightly eccentric, rather than for standing up during a press conference and declaring that "Dogs have naked ears" or insist on being addressed as king.

There is no fixed line of progress. You can't say that in three months he'll starts walking the corridors at night. Or that he two months later can't remember his children anymore.
So to put it harsh: When he has his good days, he can be allowed out. On bad days, he's "in retirement".

We'll see. In six months we'll be more certain I think.

Of course this will create a precedence for royals retiring and the debate about QMII abdicating will start up again.

I also think that Prince Henrik must be sick.
Neither the Duke of Edinburgh withdrew from public life and already has more than 90 years, so there is no reason for infirm Prince Henrik do this, unless tena serious health problems.

[Duke of Marmalade]

But if illness is the reason, why not be open about it? I mean if this illness is so grave that the retirement is enforced (eg aggressive cancer, dementia) it will show within next year anyway and people might think, ok, but why didn't they say so?

[LadyFinn]

Originally Posted by Blog Real

I also think that Prince Henrik must be sick.
Neither the Duke of Edinburgh withdrew from public life and already has more than 90 years, so there is no reason for infirm Prince Henrik do this, unless tena serious health problems.

Prince Henrik isn't the Duke of Edinburgh. Denmark isn't the United Kingdom. Every person, also prince Henrik, has the right to make the decision which is best for him for the days left for him in this life. Especially when he is over 80 years old.

[LadyRohan]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Hm... okay. The difference maybe is that in the one country (NL) the incomes are set in Law since 1972 and fixed with the general pay rise. It is purely attached to the position in the Royal House and not a sort of "prestation contract". In NL Parliament has barely any say in the heighth of the incomes as these are related to the incomes of civil servants. In Denmark Parliament determines how much money the members of the royal family get, the civil list annuity per person. Maybe that is the difference, as in Denmark parliamentarians have a direct influence on the incomes, so that maybe is indeed a reason for the Government to be so quick with statements about the income of the Prince.

The repeated use of the Netherlands as an example is not an apt or good one in the context of abdication or retirement, for the simple reason that the Nordic and British Royal Houses frown at the mention of the 'Dutch model', as one that is not desireable to establish in these kingdoms. Ones personal views aside, the monarchs in Scandinavia and Britain have made it clear repeatedly that they will not abdicate. There is no real precedent for a consort retiring either, but as some have remarked earlier in this thread, the Prince Consort is an artist, and a fairly independent man. He has made a call, and whatever the reason(s), that's that.
I do notice however, that in the Danish papers today it is quite clear that there are NO indications of health reasons behind this decision, and if you remove that factor, it is more likely that he simply feels like he has done what he can in his role, he doesn't think it will harm the RF or the Queen for him to withdraw and it could also be the case, that the mature man he is, feels that he has drawn enough controversy and criticism to his own person, and the institution he represents.

One can repeat the argument over and over, that he is old. That in general, is not a factor that is relevant in Nordic monarchies. Age sometimes requires different schedules, and reduced workloads, but it is not a part of our custom to retire, or abdicate, from royal duties. They will simply be scaled to what is manageable.

Dowager Queens like Queen Ingrid of Denmark withdrawing in her final years is also not a good example, as her daughter was the reigning Queen, and the Dowager was not a part of everyday royal life to ensure a continuation of the monarchy. The same happened with Princess Lilian of Sweden, Princess Alice of Gloucester etc, when age demanded that they withdraw from public life.

With regards to the recent abdications, yes, some of them were premature and for all intents and purposes, wrong. For Albert of the Belgians to retire, draw a salary and do nothing, is not a good way for a King to behave, in my book. Grand Duke Jean could had been on the Luxembourg throne for decades, and have his son act as regent now that his age is great and health is weak. The Popes have always been old, and fairly frail, at the end. Benedictus would not be unique in that regard. Have we already forgotten John Paul? Beatrix abdicating is just silly to me. The woman is still in great health and could had done the job for a lot longer, but it's just how it's done in the Netherlands. One can almost hear Elizabeth II sigh, and say: 'Typical Dutch'. The only recent abdication that I support, is the one of Juan Carlos. For Spain, it was a matter of safeguarding the throne, and in such a case, abdications can, and sometimes should, happen.

If ones view is that a monarch should retire, that's fine. It simply is not how it's done in Scandinavia, or in Britain, for that matter. I personally think the Prince Consort had grown tired of the role, the criticism and didn't want to harm the monarchy to any extent, so withdrawing from public life was seen as the best option there was.