Prince Henrik of Denmark
Henrik | |
---|---|
Consort of the Danish monarch | |
Tenure | 14 January 1972 – 13 February 2018 |
Born | Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat 11 June 1934 Talence, Gironde, France |
Died | 13 February 2018 Fredensborg Palace, Denmark | (aged 83)
Burial | 20 February 2018 Ashes partly scattered across Danish seas, partly interred in the private gardens of Fredensborg Palace[1] |
Spouse | |
Issue | |
Father | André de Laborde de Monpezat |
Mother | Renée Yvonne Doursenot |
Religion | Church of Denmark prev. Catholic |
Military career | |
Allegiance | France |
Service/ | French Army |
Years of service | 1959–1962 |
Battles/wars | Algerian War |
Awards |
Prince Henrik of Denmark (Danish pronunciation:
Henrik was born in the French commune of
He had two sons, King Frederik X (born 1968) and Prince Joachim (born 1969), and eight grandchildren. Throughout his time as prince consort, Henrik voiced his displeasure with never being granted the title of king.[3] A keen winemaker, Henrik produced his own wine at his estate in France. He also published many works of poetry. He was the first male consort to a Danish monarch. Henrik retired from his royal duties on 1 January 2016, at the age of 81. He died at Fredensborg Palace on 13 February 2018, after a short illness.
Early life
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Henrik%2C_Prince_Consort_of_Denmark_%281934-35%29.jpg/220px-Henrik%2C_Prince_Consort_of_Denmark_%281934-35%29.jpg)
Henrik was born in
Henrik spent his first five years in
He served as an infantry
Marriage
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Hendrik%2C_prins_van_Denemarken.jpg/220px-Hendrik%2C_prins_van_Denemarken.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Henrik%2C_Prince_Consort_of_Denmark%2C_Bestanddeelnr_928-2405_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Henrik%2C_Prince_Consort_of_Denmark%2C_Bestanddeelnr_928-2405_%28cropped%29.jpg)
On 10 June 1967, he married Princess Margrethe, the heir presumptive to the Danish throne, at the Naval Church of
Prince Henrik's native language was French, and his second language was Danish. He also spoke fluent English, German, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Although he quickly learned Danish after marrying Margrethe and spoke it regularly for half a century, Danes joked about his grasp of Danish and his pronounced French accent.[12]
Difficulties with the Danish monarchy
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Prince_Henrik..21-05_2005.jpg/220px-Prince_Henrik..21-05_2005.jpg)
When
In 2002, Prince Henrik fled Denmark for France and went to stay at the couple's Château de Cayx in Cahors in southern France. The cause of his departure from Denmark was a New Year's Day reception in which his son, Crown Prince Frederik, had been appointed as host in the absence of Queen Margrethe. Henrik felt "pushed aside, degraded and humiliated"[13] by being relegated to "third place in the royal hierarchy".
"For many years, I have been Denmark's number two", he said. "I have been satisfied with that role, but I don't want to be relegated to number three after so many years." Henrik departed from Denmark to reflect on his status in the Danish Royal Family. Queen Margrethe flew to France to meet her husband.[13] Henrik stressed that neither his wife nor son were to blame for the incident. The Prince Consort spent three weeks in Caix, and did not appear with his wife as expected at the wedding of Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Máxima Zorreguieta.[14] After three weeks, Henrik returned to Denmark.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/Royal_Wedding_Stockholm_2010-Konserthuset-421.jpg/220px-Royal_Wedding_Stockholm_2010-Konserthuset-421.jpg)
On 30 April 2008, shortly before the wedding of his younger son, Prince Joachim, to
In her New Year's speech to the Danish people on 31 December 2015, Queen Margrethe announced that Prince Henrik would slow down and give up most of his official duties beginning on 1 January 2016. On 14 April 2016, Prince Henrik renounced the title of Prince Consort, which he had been given in 2005.[18][19]
Cultural interests and hobbies
Like his wife, Prince Henrik was deeply interested in art and culture. He was particularly fond of wooden figures and jade, building up collections which he exhibited in 2017 at the museum in Koldinghus.[20] Although he never achieved his ambition of becoming a concert pianist, he continued to play the piano throughout his life. In 2013, he accompanied the pop group Michael Learns to Rock on the piano as they recorded "Echo", a number which was presented to the king of Thailand.[21][10]
Henrik wrote many poems in his native language (French), some of which have been published in the collections Chemin faisant (1982),
Henrik was also an excellent cook, inspired by French gastronomic traditions. He usually planned the family meals in collaboration with the court chef, always including his own spices on the table, some from his childhood estates in Asia. In addition to his cookbooks, Henrik often appeared in television programmes showing how he prepared meals in Fredensborg Castle in Denmark or at his French home, the Château de Cayx.[10]
Death
In August 2017, Henrik announced he did not wish to be buried next to the Queen, citing his longtime complaint of only being named Prince Consort, and not King Consort.[23][24] The decision is said to have broken a tradition that began in 1559,[25] and at the time, Queen Margrethe is said to have accepted her husband's decision.[23][24]
On 6 September 2017, it was announced that Prince Henrik was suffering from
Following his death, the Court announced a month of royal mourning.
Issue
Prince Henrik had two sons and eight grandchildren, all born at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen:
- Copenhagen Cathedral, Copenhagen. The couple have four children:
- Crown Prince Christian (born 15 October 2005)
- Princess Isabella (born 21 April 2007)
- Prince Vincent (born 8 January 2011)
- Princess Josephine (born 8 January 2011)
- Frederiksborg Palace Church, Hillerød. They divorced on 8 April 2005. He married secondly Marie Cavallieron 24 May 2008 at Møgeltønder Church, Møgeltønder. Joachim has four children, three sons and one daughter:
- Count Nikolai (born 28 August 1999)
- Count Felix (born 22 July 2002)
- Count Henrik (born 4 May 2009)
- Countess Athena (born 24 January 2012)
In 2008, Queen Margrethe II announced that her male-line descendants would bear the additional title of Count or Countess of Monpezat, in recognition of Prince Henrik's ancestry.[15] In 2023 the children of Prince Joachim were stripped of their princely titles. They will be known as Counts of Montpezat.
Titles, styles and honours
Coat of arms of Prince Henrik of Denmark | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Armiger | Prince Henrik of Denmark |
Titles and styles
- Before 10 June 1967: "Count"* Henri de Laborde de Monpezat[35]
- 10 June 1967 – 2005: His Royal HighnessPrince Henrik of Denmark
- 2005 – 14 April 2016: His Royal Highness The Prince Consort of Denmark[36]
- 14 April 2016 – 13 February 2018: His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark[19]
* Use is disputed, see section "French nobility and French title of "count" controversy" below
French nobility and French title of "count" controversy
Since late in the nineteenth century, some members of the Laborde de Monpezat family bear a title of "count", but this title (which is not a courtesy title in the context of the French nobility rules) is claimed without any legal basis.[35]
Neither the French nobility of the de Laborde de Monpezat family nor this French title of "count" are acknowledged as historically or legally valid by most recent reference authors, specialists of the French nobility who do not consider that the de Laborde de Monpezat family belongs to the French nobility.[37][38] This family is listed in the Encyclopédie de la fausse noblesse et de la noblesse d'apparence (English: Encyclopedia of False and Seeming Nobility)[37] his name is not in the Catalogue de la noblesse française (English: Catalog of French Nobility) (2002) from Régis Valette[39] and the author Charondas describes in his book À quel titre (Volume 37, 1970) the Laborde de Monpezat as "false nobles, low folk in the 17th century, not received in the states of Béarn due to 'alleged nobility and as having never had nobility in their family.'"[40] The family's surname was "Monpezat" by the time of the French Revolution, without title, until 14 July 1860, when it was changed by imperial decree to "de Laborde-Monpezat", and legally changed again on 19 May 1861 to "de Laborde de Monpezat".[5]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Queen_Margrethe_II_and_Prince_Henrik_of_Denmark_welcome_George_W._Bush_and_Laura_Bush.jpg/220px-Queen_Margrethe_II_and_Prince_Henrik_of_Denmark_welcome_George_W._Bush_and_Laura_Bush.jpg)
Although Danish law never required that royal spouses be of aristocratic origin, no heir's marriage to a person who lacked male-line descent from royalty or
Honours
National honours and awards
National honours:[8]
Denmark:
- Knight of the Order of the Elephant (R.E.)
- Grand Commander of the Order of Dannebrog(S.Kmd.)
- Recipient of the Cross of Honour of the Order of the Dannebrog (D.Ht.)
- Recipient of the 50th Birthday Medal of Queen Margrethe II
- Recipient of the 50th Anniversary Medal of the Wedding of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik
- Recipient of the 75th Birthday Medal of Queen Margrethe II
- Recipient of the Ruby Jubilee Medal of Queen Margrethe II
- Recipient of the 70th Birthday Medal of Queen Margrethe II
- Recipient of the 75th Birthday Medal of HRH the Prince Consort
- Recipient of the Silver Jubilee Medal of Queen Margrethe II
- Recipient of the 100th Anniversary Medal of the Birth of King Frederik IX
- Recipient of the Queen Ingrid Commemorative Medal
- Recipient of the 50th Anniversary Medal of the arrival of Queen Ingrid to Denmark
- Recipient of the Defence Medal for Excellent Service
- Recipient of the Homeguard Medal of Merit
- Recipient of the Red Cross Medal of Honour
- Recipient of the Danish Red Cross Medal for Merit
- Recipient of the Medal of Honour of the League of Civil Defense
- Recipient of the Medal of Honor of the Reserve Officers League
- Recipient of the Military Athletic Medal of Honour
Greenland:
- Recipient of the Recipient of the Nersornaat Medal for Meritorious Service, 1st Class
Foreign honours and awards
Foreign honours:[8]
Austria: Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria[43]
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold I
Brazil: Grand Cross of National Order of the Southern Cross
- Order of the Balkan Mountains
Croatia: Grand Cross of the Grand Order of Queen Jelena with Sash and Morning Star
Egypt: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile
Estonia: Member 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana[44]
- Order of the White Rose
France:
- Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour in Diamonds
- Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
- Commander of the Order of Agricultural Merit
- Recipient of the North Africa Security and Order Operations Commemorative Medal
Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour
Iceland: Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Japan: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
Jordan: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
Latvia: Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Three Stars
Lithuania: Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great
Luxembourg: Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
Mexico: Sash of Special Category of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle
Morocco: Grand Cross of the Order of the Throne[45]
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Nepalese Royal Family: Member of the Order of the Benevolent Ruler
Norway: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav
Poland: Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Portugal:
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ
- Grand Cross of the Military Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz
- Grand Cross of the
Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
Slovakia: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Double Cross
South Korea: Grand Gwanghwa Medal of the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit
Spain: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III
Sweden:
- Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim
- Recipient of the 85th Birthday Medal of King Gustaf VI Adolf
- Recipient of the 50th Birthday Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
- Recipient of the Ruby Jubilee Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf
- Knight of the
Thailand: Knight Grand Cross of the Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao
United Kingdom:
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Yugoslavia: Great Star of the Order of the Yugoslav Star[46]
Publications
Prince Henrik translated several books into Danish and published several other books.
- In 1981, under the pseudonym H.M. Vejerbjerg he and the Queen translated Simone de Beauvoir's Tous les hommes sont mortels.
- Chemin faisant, 1982, a volume of French poems.
- Destin oblige, 1996, his memoirs as Prince Consort.
- Ikke Altid Gåselever (not always foie gras), 1999, a selection of favourite recipes.
- Cantabile, 2000, poems.
- Les escargots de Marie Lanceline, 2003.
- Murmures de vent, 2005, poems.
- Frihjul, 2010, poems.
References
- ^ a b Madsen, Katrine Rørby; Hyldal, Christine (14 February 2018). "Prins Henrik bisættes på tirsdag og halvdelen af asken spredes over danske farvande" [Prince Henry to be interred on Tuesday with half of the ashes spread across Danish Seas]. DR.dk (in Danish). Danmarks Radio. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "Prince Henrik of Denmark". Kongehuset. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ "Denmark's Prince Henrik, who wanted to be king, dies at 83". BBC. 14 February 2018.
- ^ a b Svendsen, Helge (12 February 2001). "Obituary: Countess de Monpezat". jyllands-posten.dk (in Danish). JP/Politikens Hus A/S. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d Joseph Valynseele, Les de Laborde de Monpezat et leurs alliances, Paris, chez l'Auteur, 1975 (in French)
- ISBN 9782262059743., Renée Doursenot, born in 1908 in Périgueux, daughter of Maurice, railway employee, and Marguerite Gay, ironer. From this marriage are born eight children, the eldest of whom, Henri, will be Prince Consort of Denmark: born in Talence in 1934...)
En 1948, André de Laborde de Monpezat épouse à Cahors, Renée Doursenot, née en 1908 à Périgueux, fille de Maurice, employé des chemins de fer, et de Marguerite Gay, repasseuse. De ce mariage naissent huit enfants dont l'aîné, Henri, sera prince consort de Danemark: né à Talence en 1934... (In 1948, André de Laborde de Monpezat married in Cahors
- defrocked priest] and in the process of divorcing, had to wait until it [the divorce] was pronounced [by the French Civil Court in Saigon on 21 Sept 1940] to marry her, civilly this time (...) and thus legitimise, by making them register with the civil status, all the children born already from his religious [unlawful] marriage[dubious – discuss] [According to French republican law, approved by State-Church agreements, a religious marriage is sanctioned if pronounced before the civil marriage – and would not be more than a blessing].)
- ^ a b c d e f g Danish Royal Family (28 October 2011). "HRH Prince Henrik". kongehuset.dk (in Danish). Danish Royal Family. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ a b Elkjær, Kenneth (18 June 2014). "Prince Henrik Reveals His Bloody Past: We shot and human lives were lost". BT.dk (in Danish). Berlingske Media A/S. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g Surrugue, Stéphanie Marie; Vestergaard, Nikoline (14 February 2018). "Obituary: Prince Henrik had the joy of a hedonist and the soul of an artist". Dr.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ISBN 1-85359-041-X. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
Laborde de Monpezat.
- ^ "Prince Consort Henrik: 'I should be king'". The Local. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Runaway prince returns home". BBC News. 13 February 2002. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ "'Degraded' Danish prince takes time out". BBC News. 5 February 2002. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ a b c "Monpezat til Frederik og Joachim" [Monpezat for Frederik and Joachim]. Berlingske Tidende. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ^ Henrik prince de Danemark, Destin Oblige, 1996, 102
- ^ Levinsen, Niels. "Henrik fulgte Mary time for time" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^ "Dronningen i sin nytårstale: Prins Henrik går på pension". Politiken.dk. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Denmark's Prince Henrik renounces title as Prince Consort". Xinhuanet, China-Europe. 15 April 2016. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ "Himmelsten" (in Danish). Koldinghus. 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ Rosenstand Svidt, Ole (14 February 2018). "Hør Michael Learns to Rocks sang med prins Henrik på klaver" (in Danish). Gaffa. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
- ^ "Prins Henrik udgiver digte om livet | Kultur | DR" (in Danish). Dr.dk. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Danish prince refuses to be buried with his wife, the queen". BBC News. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Merrit (3 August 2017). "Denmark's Prince Henrik Says He Won't Be Buried With His Wife". NPR. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ Olsen, Jan M. (4 August 2017). "Denmark prince refuses to be buried next to wife, the queen". Star Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 19 August 2019.
- ^ The Danish Royal Family (6 September 2017). "HRH Prince Henrik's health". kongehuset.dk. The Danish Monarchy. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
- ^ Astrup, Peter; Boas, Simon; Hansen, Jens Anton (29 January 2018). "Prince Henrik Hospitalized: Prince Joachim responds to his father's situation". BT.dk (in Danish). Berlingske Media. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ /ritzau/ (2 February 2018). "Prince Henrik studied for tumor in the left lung". Jydske Vestkysten (in Danish). Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ Kongehuset (9 February 2018). "HRH Prince Henrik's condition deteriorated". Kongehuset.dk. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ Kongehuset (13 February 2018). "HRH Prince Henrik has returned to Fredensborg Castle". Kongehuset.dk. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
- ^ Danish Royal Family (14 February 2018). "HRH Prince Henrik has Died". kongehuset.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ Kjempff, Marie; Jepsen, Helene (14 February 2018). "The Royal House: Prince Henrik interred on February 20th – the ashes to be divided into two". TV2.dk (in Danish). Retrieved 14 February 2018.
- ^ "19.356 har set prins Henrik på 'castrum doloris'". nyheder.tv2.dk (in Danish). 19 February 2018. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
- ^ Jeppesen, Issa (18 February 2018). "DR.dk". Castrum doloris: More than 8000 Danes went to say goodbye to Prince Henrik. Danmarks Radio. Retrieved 19 February 2018.
- ^ a b Valynseele, Joseph (31 May 1975). "Les Laborde de Monpezat et leurs alliances". J. Valynseele – via Google Books.
- ^ "Prince Henrik of Denmark, the 'world's grumpiest royal'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 February 2018.
- ^ a b Pierre-Marie Dioudonnat, Encyclopédie de la fausse noblesse et de la noblesse d'apparence, Paris, Sedopols, 1976–79 (2 vols), French, p.208.
- ^ F. de Saint-Simon, Dictionnaire de la noblesse française, 1975, p. 60.
- ^ Régis Valette, Catalogue de la noblesse française, Éditions Robert Laffont, 2002.
- ^ Charondas, À quel titre, volume 37, 1970.
- ISBN 2-901138-07-1.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link - ^ ISBN 3-7980-0833-7
- ^ "Reply to a parliamentary question about the Decoration of Honour" (PDF) (in German). p. 552. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ "Vabariigi President". President.ee. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ https://media.gettyimages.com/id/948296280/pt/foto/margrethe-ii-du-danemark-et-hassan-ii-lors-dun-voyage-officiel-le-6-f%C3%A9vrier-1988-maroc.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=Rmvk6GrGqT7fVUYybeEO5wkalACUTECQxoiNG1dxQ-c=
- ^ "MIJ". foto.mij.rs.
Bibliography
- Bramsen, Bo (1992). Huset Glücksborg. Europas svigerfader og hans efterslægt [The House of Glücksburg. The Father-in-law of Europe and his descendants] (in Danish) (2nd ed.). Copenhagen: Forlaget Forum. ISBN 87-553-1843-6.
- Lerche, Anna; Mandal, Marcus (2003). A royal family : the story of Christian IX and his European descendants. Copenhagen: Aschehoug. ISBN 9788715109577.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)