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

[marye]

Muhler, you are one of the main reasons I joined this forum - you have such extensive knowledge along with wit - invaluable I do believe. Thank you for all the insights, laughter, chuckles and pleasure you have brought to this member.

 

[royal rob]

Muhler, you are one of the main reasons I joined this forum - you have such extensive knowledge along with wit - invaluable I do believe. Thank you for all the insights, laughter, chuckles and pleasure you have brought to this member.

I agree love reading your posts


Sent from my iPhone using The Royals Community

 

[King of the Jungle]

I hope Henrik doesn't develop a serius dementia.
Should he be so unlucky I hope he is not banished or locked away. The DRF could afford individual carers to accompany him on his adventures. At a risk of being embarrassing, Wacky Grandpas can offer a relaxed and alternate view of the World. Eccentricity offers refief from predictability. A large Shepherd is a positive model.

 

[Mbruno]

It's interesting that Prince Daniel should be mentioned. He is going to set a standard for prince consorts in the future. The heirs of Belgium, Spain, The Netherlands, Norway and Japan are all female. Although Japan will have to change their constitution for females to inherit the throne.

Japan is not going to change its constitution to allow female succession.

 

[Soula]

Don't know if this is the right thread to ask this but how does PH get on with CP Frederik?

 

[LadyRohan]

Japan is not going to change its constitution to allow female succession.

They are, but not in order to promote Princess Aiko. Like most monarchies, the Japanese one will allow female succession in due course, but it became less of a pressing matter after the birth of Prince Hisahito in 2006. With a rich history of reigning empresses in the past, it's only a matter of time before this change happens in Japan aswell.

When it comes to Prince Henrik, it strikes me as a correct observation that he is a rather old-fashioned man, who has struggled being overshadowed by his wife. Every consort deals with their fate in their own way, and while I do disapprove of his act of withdrawal, I think it is important to equally remember that life as a consort is not for everyone, and he has filled his role, in his own way, for going on 50 years.

I'm only sure of one thing for the future of the Danish monarchy, and that is that the Queen is strengthened by this, and will continue to do her role up to the incredibly high standard she has previously set, and the Danish people will hold her in even higher regard for it.

 

[GracieGiraffe]

Naturally none of us hope Henrik is suffering the horrors of dementia, but right now there is no sign of that. I think it's just Henrik being the same Henrik he's always been. Time will tell on this, not a question that can be answered today.

Re: Muhler; Long Live Muhler, the true King of the Danes in my book. (Step aside, Henrik!) Don't ever change, Muhler.

 

[Muhler]

I hope Henrik doesn't develop a serius dementia.
Should he be so unlucky I hope he is not banished or locked away. The DRF could afford individual carers to accompany him on his adventures. At a risk of being embarrassing, Wacky Grandpas can offer a relaxed and alternate view of the World. Eccentricity offers refief from predictability. A large Shepherd is a positive model.

Nor do I, it's a horrible thing! Not so much for the one who has dementia - they are in their own world. But because it's so painful for the relatives.
Alzheimer at least necessitate at some point that the patient is kept under control.
There are various ways and stages. Some cases use a language that would make even the most hardened sailor blush. Some become aggressive, verbally and physically. Others begin to expose themselves. At some point some begin to yell - for hours!
Such behavior would naturally be an embarrassment for the DRF, should it happen in public, like him going out on Amalienborg Square. But first and foremost it's not something PH would want to be remembered for! He's a very proud man.

Don't know if this is the right thread to ask this but how does PH get on with CP Frederik?

They have by all accounts a very loving relationship. - As long as Frederik remember that he is the son and PH is the father and the patron!
Whether they are close, as in talking about personal matters with each other? That's a question I'd like to know the answer to as well.

 

[GracieGiraffe]

Nor do I, it's a horrible thing! Not so much for the one who has dementia - they are in their own world. But because it's so painful for the relatives.
Alzheimer at least necessitate at some point that the patient is kept under control.
There are various ways and stages. Some cases use a language that would make even the most hardened sailor blush. Some become aggressive, verbally and physically. Others begin to expose themselves. At some point some begin to yell - for hours!
Such behavior would naturally be an embarrassment for the DRF, should it happen in public, like him going out on Amalienborg Square. But first and foremost it's not something PH would want to be remembered for! He's a very proud man.



They have by all accounts a very loving relationship. - As long as Frederik remember that he is the son and PH is the father and the patron!
Whether they are close, as in talking about personal matters with each other? That's a question I'd like to know the answer to as well.

I know I'm off topic, but I must correct you. The person suffering from Alzheimer's is fully aware of what is going on in the beginning stages, and it is dreadful. Simply, utterly dreadful. Unfortunately I have seen this first hand more times than I care to tell you.

 

[Muhler]

I stand corrected.

 

[MidwestMom]

My mother had Alzheimer's, and everything that has been said here is true. The first few years weren't too bad, we could deal with the occasional quirks. Eventually, she had to be in a nursing home. We were lucky that she kept a pleasant personality; the last year or so, she smiled at everyone, she just didn't talk. She also became a petty thief, taking any small object that she fancied - she was partial to baskets. Even if this is PH's problem, he should be able to have a good life for some time. Like I said in another post, it will be interesting to see how he is in a year's time.

And Muhler, don't ever change. We like you just the way you are.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I find these stories about Alzheimer irritating. We have no idea at all. Note that in the Netherlands the Court felt enforced to state that former Queen Juliana was not suffering Alzheimer but "a form of amnesia which often occurs with people on an advanced age".

Prince Henrik is in his eighties, He always has lived to the max, as a true bonvivant. He is less mobile: we can see that he uses a walking stick. He has been corpulent since the Eighties. His not so ascetic lifestyle maybe will take its toll but hey... may a man in his Eighties have a retreat, please?

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

The DK press follow PH these days, now that he has retired, and this article would normally belong in another thread but because of one particular detail, I've decided to put it here.
Henrik blev tituleret som konge - og bestilte mærkværdig figur af sig selv - Royale | www.bt.dk

PH visited the shop of artisan and artist Marco Giuseppe Ferrigno, in Naples.
Here he commissioned a figure of himself carved in wood, where he is a shepherd. The figure will be 40 centimeters high.
He also bought a number of figures for a nativity scene - they are around 20 cm high.

Ferrigno says about PH: "He was very open, very democratic in the best definition of the word. And we were all to take pictures with him. He seems like a very kind/friendly person. When you talk about regents, you often thing they are reserved but he was very amiable".

PH was presented and apparently addressed as king. Because Ferrigno afterwards wrote on Facebook that he had been visited by the Danish king.

Ferrigno explains: "It was the interpreter who said it. I didn't know his title was Prince".

Not sure if the pictures belong here - Henrik is retired so a current events thread doesnt make any sense I guess - but who knows - anyway, here are the pictures of the King of Denmark and the artist Marco Guiseppe Ferrigno.
https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=16e7713d1af2c4c70409bf804074ab69&oe=570F8459
https://scontent-fra3-1.xx.fbcdn.ne...=f5730cc109445489f591924b91023c7e&oe=570A1F76

 

[Muhler]

Well, whether we like it or not, PH has arguably had a number cases of poor judgement within the past few years.
Combined with the fact that officially retiring is virtually unheard of in the DRF, and for that matter in other royal families, that will necessarily lead to speculations and debate.

And let me make one thing clear: If PH has retired due to feeling old, that may be not be the best PR-move, because he is by no means showered with sympathy in the press and on the street.
Fair enough that he can't go on state visits anymore, they are strenuous.
But if PH is seen traveling all over the world and go hunting and what not, while at the same time he's too old to accompany QMII to an event then he is going to get some heat. - That he also receive the same amount in apanage, now that his staff has less to do, is not particularly easy to justify as well.
It's peanuts but still annoying, because the rest of the DRF receive the same amount as before - to cover for PH.

If, repeat if, his staff is cut down. Then it will be seen as he is pocketing more of his apanage - which is mainly supposed to cover expenses - and then it becomes a PR-disaster for PH!

So if PH is not suffering from something other than growing older, then IMO he is behaving like a spoiled child and I think he is letting down his wife as well.
However, it fits well with my impression of PH's personality: Me and my needs first - naturally.

 

[Osipi]

What it really all boils down to is that we really don't know anything other than what we've been told in regards to Henrik's retirement from public life. It may be the onset of Altzheimer's or dementia or it just could be that this is a move that was decided on for the good of the Danish royal family or that Henrik, himself, just wants to enjoy his golden years. We just have to watch and see and as royal watchers, that's exactly what we'll do. For better or for worse, its what we do.

There is a really good book that I've found that was written by one of my favorite authors and she goes into detail of how the disease of Altzheimers progresses. Its called "Love Never Sleeps" by Mary Summer Rain and its a very good read especially for those of us who have experienced this disease in someone we know and loved.

BTW: Muhler, never ever lose your wonderful way with words. I admire people that can and do express themselves with strong convictions, a bit of humor and a whole lot of intelligence. Reminds me of one of my best friends that I'm missing very much right now but I always carry her words with me.

 

[Muhler]

I'll post this separately lest the mods wish to move this.
Because since PH has retired we may need a "retired DRF-member's general news thread".

This is a piece of news that surfaced some time back now. During the Regent Couple's Christmas stay at Marselisborg. The 23th to be exact.
A passer-by photographed the crown-car, used by PH, parked on the sidewalk in the narrow street of Paradisgade in central Aarhus: Henriks kronebil på afveje: Pikant parkering - Herognu

- Right outside a swinger club....

That has naturally caused a few chuckles but no sensation.

I happen to know the area pretty well from living in Aarhus before I got married and all that. Back then this particular street was the home of two out of the three porn-stores in Aarhus. It was also an area where you would see female "sidewalk-patrols" at night and there were a few bars where you should not go in, if you looked like and especially sounded like a university-student!
Now the neighborhood has become mundane, with art galleries, restaurants and antique shops - and the odd swinger-club as well...

But Paradisgade is also the home of Øst for Paradis = East of Paradise. A little cinema that has been there since forever.
How the cinema has survived is beyond me, because they show French Noir films so advanced that even Ingmar Bergman would be left numb!
And this is where PH went that evening.
He and a few friends wet to see McBeth

That has been confirmed by the court. http://www.avisen.dk/kongehuset-forklarer-henriks-swingerklub-parkering_364011.aspx

The cinema itself was pretty delighted with the visit.

To the no doubt big relief of the driver, he only supported PH into the cinema, then returned to drive away.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

Well, whether we like it or not, PH has arguably had a number cases of poor judgement within the past few years.
Combined with the fact that officially retiring is virtually unheard of in the DRF, and for that matter in other royal families, that will necessarily lead to speculations and debate.

And let me make one thing clear: If PH has retired due to feeling old, that may be not be the best PR-move, because he is by no means showered with sympathy in the press and on the street.
Fair enough that he can't go on state visits anymore, they are strenuous.
But if PH is seen traveling all over the world and go hunting and what not, while at the same time he's too old to accompany QMII to an event then he is going to get some heat. - That he also receive the same amount in apanage, now that his staff has less to do, is not particularly easy to justify as well.
It's peanuts but still annoying, because the rest of the DRF receive the same amount as before - to cover for PH.

If, repeat if, his staff is cut down. Then it will be seen as he is pocketing more of his apanage - which is mainly supposed to cover expenses - and then it becomes a PR-disaster for PH!

So if PH is not suffering from something other than growing older, then IMO he is behaving like a spoiled child and I think he is letting down his wife as well.
However, it fits well with my impression of PH's personality: Me and my needs first - naturally.

Trods pension: Prins Henrik beholder sit hof - Herognu

Her&NU is already on the story that Henrik will keep his court despite stopping to work (he gets 8 Mio DKK for this = around 1 Mio Euros) They write that its an Ego thing, when the Queen and CP has their own court, he must have his own employees too.

 

[Soula]

Nor do I, it's a horrible thing! Not so much for the one who has dementia - they are in their own world. But because it's so painful for the relatives.
Alzheimer at least necessitate at some point that the patient is kept under control.
There are various ways and stages. Some cases use a language that would make even the most hardened sailor blush. Some become aggressive, verbally and physically. Others begin to expose themselves. At some point some begin to yell - for hours!
Such behavior would naturally be an embarrassment for the DRF, should it happen in public, like him going out on Amalienborg Square. But first and foremost it's not something PH would want to be remembered for! He's a very proud man.



They have by all accounts a very loving relationship. - As long as Frederik remember that he is the son and PH is the father and the patron!
Whether they are close, as in talking about personal matters with each other? That's a question I'd like to know the answer to as well.

Thanks Muhler

You have to wonder what will happen if Frederik ascends the throne in PH's lifetime....

 

[LadyRohan]

Thanks Muhler

You have to wonder what will happen if Frederik ascends the throne in PH's lifetime....

Absolutely nothing would happen. The Prince has always been a visibly supportive and loving father, and in such an event I'm sure he would continue to be just that. Many tend to forget that in the event that someone assumes the Scandinavian and Commonwealth thrones, a parent has to pass away. That makes it a somber event, and the parent that remains would be twice as supportive of their child, who not only is assuming the most important and demanding of roles, but is also doing it during great sorrow at the personal loss they would have just experienced.

Many things can be said about this retirement event, and I would echo many of them myself. To drag in factors such as Prince Henriks job as a father hovewer, is both unfair and a derailment of the issue itself; his call to let his wife fulfill the role as head of state alone, without the visible support of her living spouse. In my book, that is quite unheard of, and up until now, in royal life, something that simply would not be done.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

Thanks Muhler

You have to wonder what will happen if Frederik ascends the throne in PH's lifetime....

Maybe King Frederik and the parliament decides to give P H the title "His Majesty The King Father" and place him above King Frederik X in the hierarchy........and all of a sudden Henriks willingness to work returens and he starts to appear anywhere and everywhere...:-D

No ofcourse that won't happen. If Henrik is alive when Denmark have a King Frederik X and Queen Mary he will likely retire to 500 %. Ofcourse he would support and advice Frederik and Mary........in private life inside the walls of Fredensborg Palace but he will never turn up as nr 3 in rank to an official event. I think his current "90 % retirement" is a part of a such plan to avoid a reprise of 2002. Then Henrik can choose what he wants to attend and not, without feeling that he has to be there.

 

[camelot23ca]

I think part of Henrik's troubles in recent years are rooted in the way his entry into the Danish royal family was handled, or mishandled, decades ago. From the comparisons that were made around the time that Mary and Frederik got married, it sounds like Henrik was coddled right from the start, as opposed to the very high standard of "tough love" training Mary was put through. No doubt it seemed like a good idea to both the court and the family at the time - ease Henri into royal life, let him keep as much of his French life and identity as possible, don't make too big of a deal about him learning Danish, etc.

In retrospect, though, what would have been kinder to Henrik in the long term would have been more rigour. He should have been held to the same high standard as Mary. It's unrealistic, IMO, to think someone marrying into a royal family, especially a royal family in a foreign country, isn't going to have to make major sacrifices that encompass almost every aspect of their life. That should have been made clear to Henrik right from the start.

 

[Soula]

Absolutely nothing would happen. The Prince has always been a visibly supportive and loving father, and in such an event I'm sure he would continue to be just that. Many tend to forget that in the event that someone assumes the Scandinavian and Commonwealth thrones, a parent has to pass away. That makes it a somber event, and the parent that remains would be twice as supportive of their child, who not only is assuming the most important and demanding of roles, but is also doing it during great sorrow at the personal loss they would have just experienced.

Many things can be said about this retirement event, and I would echo many of them myself. To drag in factors such as Prince Henriks job as a father hovewer, is both unfair and a derailment of the issue itself; his call to let his wife fulfill the role as head of state alone, without the visible support of her living spouse. In my book, that is quite unheard of, and up until now, in royal life, something that simply would not be done.

I hear what you are saying but I think it's a logical and valid question. If he can't visibly support his wife now why would he support his son?

Maybe King Frederik and the parliament decides to give P H the title "His Majesty The King Father" and place him above King Frederik X in the hierarchy........and all of a sudden Henriks willingness to work returens and he starts to appear anywhere and everywhere...:-D

No ofcourse that won't happen. If Henrik is alive when Denmark have a King Frederik X and Queen Mary he will likely retire to 500 %. Ofcourse he would support and advice Frederik and Mary........in private life inside the walls of Fredensborg Palace but he will never turn up as nr 3 in rank to an official event. I think his current "90 % retirement" is a part of a such plan to avoid a reprise of 2002. Then Henrik can choose what he wants to attend and not, without feeling that he has to be there.

Thanks Hans-Rickard, I needed a laugh

I wonder if he will ever stay out of the way though, he seems too egotistical to disappear.

 

[Roslyn]

Just popping in to let you all know that, according to the cover of Australia's "New Idea" magazine, "King Henrik" has stepped down, and that there was an "official palace ceremony" and that Mary has been "crowned queen". Hot off the press from those fabulous folks who outed Prince Harry's trip to Afghanistan a few years ago. I wasted $4.30 on this rubbish, but I blame my weakness of mind on hunger. It was 5pm and I hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch.

Unfortunately the actual item in the magazine does not match the front page, either in consistency or entertainment value. You'd be forgiven for thinking the cover had been drafted by someone who hadn't read the article.

This magazine has also informed me about Prince Charles' and Catherine Zeta-Jones' "bizarre romance". Reading the article itself tells me that apparently took place in the early 90s, so not anywhere near as juicy as the cover photo of Charles in recent years led me to believe. Those photos of George's first day at pre-school were there as was the scuttlebutt on why the Middletons weren't at Amner on Christmas Day and why Pippa and Kate aren't speaking at the moment. Lots of other mind-numbing stuff about all the usual suspects, but there is a nice recipe for a tasty looking summer punch involving watermelon which looks appealing on this very hot summer day.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

However, it fits well with my impression of PH's personality: Me and my needs first - naturally.

When I was in Kopenhagen over Christmas, I heard the opinion of some Danes being around (I posted this in the Future of the Monarchy thread), all agreeing that Henrik (and Joachim) is a snob.

I just found out that the mother of a co-worker is a Dane. Unfortunately this guy is not interested in royalty at all, all he knows is that Frederik is popular and perceived as 'down to earth' - obviously in contrast to his father.

What I found funny is that this colleague said that Danes are usually very quick at labelling somebody a 'snob' - it doesnt take much to do that, he gave the example that the Swedes are generally regarded as 'snobs' - from the Danish perspective.

So - the very cultural - question is if Henrik is REALLY a snob and the ME ME ME type or if the Danes are that folksy that everybody who isn't (and a french nobleman obviously isn't) easily falls into the category 'snob'.

 

[Muhler]

Thanks, Roslyn. Now you know: next time choose a chocolate bar instead.


I don't know if we Danes are quick to labeling people as snobs. I think it's more a variation of the tall-poppy syndrome.
When PH is popular, he is so, because he is different. - And when he is unpopular it's when he puts himself above his wife and thinks too highly of himself - I.e. wanna be king-stuff.

Joachim is admittedly generally seen as arrogant. And perhaps he is, personally I believe he has his persona against him.

As for the Swedes, yes, that's true! And they have no sense of humor either.., and they are stuffy.., and they generalize and so on...
It's a part of an ongoing feud for the past 800 years. - At least we don't shoot at each other anymore.

 

[MARG]

We down here are very familiar with tall-poppy-syndrome. It is really a not so nice cultural quirk we share. I love the distinction between "because he is different" and "thinks too highly of himself" for Prince Henrik. Those few words explain a lot.

I would have to agree that Joachim's persona is the problem. He came across as very urbane when he was married to Alexandra just as she was the quintessential "Princess" with a capital P. He seems to have loosened up considerably the years since (witness the red dinner jacket), but people still have that image stuck in their heads.

As to the whole Danish/Swedish thing, we have the same thing here with New Zealand/Australia. Except with the whole shooting bit...or at least that we admit to!

 

[Roslyn]

We haven't ever shot at each other...have we? (Though perhaps you might have been inclined to do so after a certain underarm bowling incident I remember.)

 

[gerry]

We haven't ever shot at each other...have we? (Though perhaps you might have been inclined to do so after a certain underarm bowling incident I remember.)

Now now, inside jokes down under (pun intended!) are very well indeed, but I wonder whether the now retired Prince Consort has the Antipodes in his gunsight to pay a visit, now that NOMA, the world famous Copenhagen restaurant, is opening up in Sydney. Could Australian members report on NOMA's reception and other related news, including that of any retired Prince Consort sightings?

 

[Roslyn]

I hope travelling is what he has in mind for his retirement, and that it's not due to ill-health. We here could make a game of it: Where in the World is Prince Henrik? illustrated by photographic evidence.

 

[Muhler]

On this chilly day with the snow being sticky PH hosted a hunt at Grib Forest near Fredensborg - wearing an interesting hat: VIDEO: Prins Henrik inviterede til jagt i sneen | BILLED-BLADET

And BT quotes his for saying that he is indeed enjoying his retirement: Prins Henriks første 'arbejdsdag': Jeg nyder min pension - Royale | www.bt.dk

Notice his socks!