Prince Henrik's Plans for his Final Resting Place: August 2017

[Binz]

Originally Posted by Muhler

Personally speaking: I won't say I'm angry, but I sure feel let down on behalf of QMII, and I also feel the tribe has been let down by him. I'm more deeply disappointed. I'm turning my back on him.
PH being a devoted grandpa, good with children and an eccentric dresser, let alone all the work he has done for the past 50 years, that's out the window.
PH has openly elected to distance himself from not only his wife but also the DRF and slammed the door behind him.
He has deserted his wife! He has also let down the rest of his family, not least Frederik, whom he should have supported as much as he could.
I hope, that's actually an odd thing to say..., I hope what PH is doing is a result of a mental deterioration. But to be honest, I don't think so. This is simply a major flaw in his character and in that case: No understanding, no sympathy, just get lost... A cold, unemotional goodbye.
Do you understand my meaning?

I always liked Henrik and I think he has been treated sometimes not very well.

I also think it was fine he stopped working when he wasn't sick and just wanted to enjoy the last years of his live without obligations. After all he was already 80+ and deserved to spent his time as he wished (at least in my opinien).

But this is total different and neither the Queen nor CP Frederik deserve a Price Consort behaving like a spoiled petulant child that just doesn't get what it wants. Stomping with the feets and trying to destroy as much as possibel.

If he isn't mentally ill, this is extremly low behavoir.

And I can only agree with this:
No understanding, no sympathy, just get lost... A cold, unemotional goodbye.

[Muhler]

The first reactions are coming in:

Here from BT's editorial: BT mener: Prinsens ulykkelige beslutning | BT Danmark - www.bt.dk

Prince Henrik's decision about not being laid to rest next to his wife (formal word) and Queen in the planned common grave in Roskilde Cathedral is both unhappy, spoiled and wrong.
Unhappy, because the Prince puts Queen Margrethe in an impossible situation.
Spoiled, because Prince Henrik has always known what the job as Prince in Denmark entailed - to follow his Queen in good and bad.
And wrong, because he in that way, puts his own person above the position as Prince of Denmark and dismiss the historical tradition which he is a part of.
The Prince had otherwise gained the wide acceptance of the people and in some places almost gained a cult-status, even though he recent decision about retiring wasn't well received everywhere.

Back in 2005 I interviewed Prince Henrik myself at Chateau Caix and got a look into a person who was the exact opposite of the image the public back then delighted in portraying him, as a slighly charicatured clown, who spoke circus-Danish in the shadown of his Queen. Prince Henrik was on the contrary full of humor, witty, intelligent and musical and it was easy to understand what the Queen had fallen for. Over time the Danes also embraced him as such.

But with his decision about not wanting to be buried next to the Queen of Denmark the Prince has hurt Margrethe, who if any has the love of the people, and that the Danes will probably never ever forgive him.
The wish of the Prince about being equal to the Queen is in 2017 understandable, but that does not change that he naturally ought to be buried with his wife (formal).
Now he will seem like a person, whose wounded French vanity overshadow for common compassion, because the love between people should always triumph/win over the urge to change formal conditions.

On photos and TV you can tell the Prince's obvious devotion to his wife (formal), but Prince Henrik's dissatisfaction with his Queen has made him take a wrong decision. With this the words "to death do you part" get a new and sad meaning, which is not worthy of ordinary people or royals.

BT, like most medias in DK today, have listed the instances where PH either spoke openly about his dissatisfaction about his position, embarrassed QMII or was conspicuously absent. Starting in 1996, and accellerating.

I won't translate, you can probably remember it.

Se hele listen: Her har Prins Henrik OGSÅ været utilfreds | BT Historie - www.bt.dk

[Winnie]

Muhler, thank you for your entire post I agree with all you wrote. This is to me a malicious slap in the face to your Queen M by her spoiled self-centered husband that didn't get his own way and thought he was deserving of being titled King. Well apparently his government didn't or he would have been. The fact that his own son will hold that title eventually really must gripe his stomach. I also would like to say that he might be having a mental problem starting but I don't believe so. I think he is just being ignorant and getting back at his wife and her country for not recognizing his personal wants. Plus to not want to be buried next to his wife is a public declaration that his middle finger is raised to all of you when this ignorant man dies.

Your Queen will smile through it all publically but must actually be so sad privately. My prayers to her nightly that she will continue her roll as queen for as long as she wants and not let this manipulate pathetic man spoil her true nature. Happiness to you all in Denmark without this man's self made childish drama.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

1. I know that Henrik is unpredictable, but I am totally shocked/supriced over this.

2. I have gone through Danish media, and it's the headline story on both TV2/DR and in all the papers.

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Henrik should now draw the line and not appear at family events anymore, at all. Every photoshoot he attends will now be seen as super hypocritical.

Chances are high that he will spoil Frederik's 50th birthday with his presence only.

I agree 1000% with you but am afraid that he might just do the opposite to make drama and bizarre nonsense for his wife and her country that wouldn't give him his own way. This malicious action on his part is just making my head hurt for his wife and Denmark.

[Muhler]

Various royal reporters, from the serious newspapers are commenting:

Ekspert om prins Henriks beslutning: Meget mærkeligt og uforståeligt - TV 2

Peter Thygesen from Politiken (which is basically a republican newspaper), who is taken aback says: "Not since the mid 1800's has a Danish Regent been buried without his/her spouse. It's historically unheard of, it's very odd and a very sad demonstration by Prince Henrik against the Queen. It puts the Queen in a very awkward situation.
I think it's both annoying/a great pity, but also incomprehensible for the Danes. It's an odd time in his life that he makes this demonstration. I actually think he is letting her down". (The expression is: "kan ikke være det bekendt" but I can't find a better translation right now).


Lally Hoffmann, a very experienced journalist, believe it's a sad decision and says: "I must say I'm surprised and it is in a way regrettable. But you shouldn't look at is as a question of the relationship between the Queen and Prince Henrik.
What Prince Henrik for now many years has pointed out is that he has not got equal rights within the DRF. So it's the institution the DRF he is now rebelling against".

She believes PH's concern about his legacy plays a role in the decision:
"It is a bit sad. Two people who have held together for so many years and who might just as well has seen the tradition through all the way, and then the legacy is apparently something that concerns Prince Henrik. Otherwise it surely wasn't that important to be equal".


There is a family grave in France, where among others his mother is buried, about that PH is quoted for saying to the author of a book, John Lindskog: "No unfortunately, it will be Roskilde for me".
Was he sorry about being laid to rest in Roskilde?
"It can't be helped. It's my duty".

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

And rightly so. What a jerk!

this was my reaction too! Very disappointed/angry with Henrik.
One thing is his disaffection with his title, "prince consort," but for a husband of over 50 years not wanting to be buried with his wife, just wow!

[Muhler]

Billed Bladet's Trine Larsen, who for years have followed PH up close and interviewed him on several occasions has this to say: BILLED-BLADETs kongehus-ekspert: Derfor vil Henrik ikke begraves med Margrethe | BILLED-BLADET

"It's a very sad decision the Prince has made, because it not only involves himself but also the Queen and the rest of the DRF.
It's presumably his mounting dissatisfaction and frustration about not being equal to his wife, the Queen, that is behind his decision. And when that is not to be in life, he has apparently decided that it is not going to be in death either.
Prince Henrik does not feel he has been given the deserved acknowledgment for his work for Denmark and that has in later years become an ever increasing key issue for the Prince.
It's really sad and very regrettable".

[eya]

Thanks Muhler!!! You are our perfect Reporter!

Prince Henrik did it again!!

And yesterday we are talking for an another Prince Consort! What a difference a day made!

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by eya

Thanks Muhler!!! You are our perfect Reporter!

Prince Henrik did it again!!

And yesterday we are talking for an another Prince Consort! What a difference a day made!

You are welcome.

Indeed the Duke of Edinburgh has never let his wife down, and while he may have his faults too, he has rarely complained and always stayed true to his duty.
There are light years between the two men.

[Binz]

Originally Posted by Muhler

It's presumably his mounting dissatisfaction and frustration about not being equal to his wife, the Queen, that is behind his decision.

What I would like to tell Henrik:

Big deal Henrik!

As a woman I can asure you gender equality is not establised everywere and usual we the woman are the ones who are on the bad side. Did you ever work for gender equality or did you think just because you are a men everything should be in your favour and you simple deserved equality because you are a men?

Surprise, surprise, life is not fair and we all do not get always what we want or work very hard for.

And if you ever thought about your legacy, are you sure you are helping your legacy with this stupidy?

[Muhler]

The comments are pouring in from historians and more or less royal experts.

I'll leave it to other Danish-speakers/readers to pick out details, but some of the comments are pretty harsh!

https://www.b.dk/kultur/kongehuseksp...ing-margrethes

Historiker: Prins Henrik bryder med 600 års traditioner | BT Danmark - www.bt.dk

Kongehusekspert: Vi har ikke længere et regentpar - Indland

The historian Jes Frabricius Møller ends his comment with this broadside:
"This I had not even imagined - it's totally incomprehensible. I cannot fathom what is going on in that mans head. They have long gone along with the Prince Consort on several occasions. The only thing he has been denied is to be formally equal to hus wife (formal). But the country only has one head of state and that cannot be changed. Anyway, this was something he should have negotiated with Frederik IX, before the couple were to marry".

The only one who has shown sympathy for PH, while doing a no comment on his decision, is his very close friend, Erik Brandt.

- I'm going to take a break.

[ROYAL NORWAY]

I'm now watching TV AVISEN (DR's news program) and its of course the main story.

Edit: They are reporting live from Fredensborg.

Edit: Commentary from Berlingske: (Danish newspaper)
https://www.b.dk/nationalt/dumstaedi...edsmeltning-af

A good example of one who has had a similar status is Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip - a 96-year-old man who has now decided to retire. But it's a prince who has never at any point showed a lack of acceptance for the role he once was given.

One could wish that our own prince would learn from the dignity and prestige that has been associated with Prince Philips act as a spouse to the monarch. From Prince Philip there has been no public complains about his position, etc. On the contrary, Prince Philip has been a faithful support for his wife, Queen Elizabeth. One could have hoped that our own Prince Henrik would have seen more to England when he was to find a role model for a prince!

Edit It's starting to make news in Norway too.

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

Edit It's starting to make news in Norway too.

News about what?

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Of Henrik not being buried with QMII.

[Minister of Court]

Originally Posted by ROYAL NORWAY

Edit It's starting to make news in Norway too.

It's top news on Finland's Yle (our "BBC") too.

[Rudolph]

Making news with the BBC

Danish prince refuses to be buried with his wife, the queen - BBC News

[Blog Real]

Prince Henrik never settled for his role. But this decision is a lack of respect for the queen and her family. There was no need to make this announcement.
I feel sorry for Queen Margrethe and Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim. These PH decisions should not be easy for them.
It is because of these decisions that the people do not sympathize with Henrik.

[Lee-Z]

Yep, got dutch media attention too.... i don't really know what to say, i know P.Henrik was always a bit eccentric, but this? Wouldn't have guessed in a million years...

[Jacknch]

This has taken me very much by surprise. I can only say two things:

1/ No greater rank, style or title, nor achievement or privilege could there have been for him than to have been married all these years to the great lady that is Queen Margrethe

2/ Indeed alive there can be inequality - but in death everyone is as equal as it can possibly be.