The Danish royal family has lost a dear family member. After a long period, troubling with health issues, Prince Henrik has died on February 13th. Since the 60s, when he married Queen Margrethe, he has been by her side at all times -when she welcomed foreign ambassadors, visiting locals around Denmark, trips to Greenland and the list just goes on.
In 2016 everything changed, because the Prince had decided to retire from his official duties and only participate in events to a limited extent. The news was published by the Queen in her new year speech end of 2015. In summer 2017 he was hospitalized for the first time because of pains and an infection. In September, the same year, the royal house announced that the Prince was suffering from dementia. A disease that affects the cognitive function level accompanied by changes in reaction patterns and judgment. End of January 2018 the Prince was, once again, hospitalized at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. This time because of a benign tumor in his left lung. On February 2nd he was moved to the infectious department for treatment for pulmonary infection. Only a few days later, on February 9th, the news arrived that the Prince's health situation was worsened. The family visited him multiple times his last last four days, while he stayed at Rigshospitalet. On February 13th, Prince Henrik was transferred from the hospital to Fredensborg as he wished. Tuesday evening at 11:18 pm he passed way with his wife and two sons close by.
All day on February 14th, Danes showed sympathy with the family and placed hundreds of flowers at the gates of Fredensborg. The Queen even left Fredensborg shortly to thank the public and press for their sympathy. Bouquet of flowers and condolences were placed at castles all over Denmark. Hundreds of Danes also visited Amalienborg to write condolences on behalf of the Prince's death.
On February 15th the coffin left Fredensborg castle and was driven to Amalienborg, where it stayed for only one day. His trip from Fredensborg to Amalienborg was followed by close family members. The following day it was transferred to Christiansborg castle church where the bailout took place on February 20th. The ceremony was led by former royal confessor Erik Norman Svendsen. Only close family members attended the ceremony. This was Prince Henrik's own wish. The bailout was live broadcasted on Danish television from early morning till his coffin was driven away from the church to be cremated. The Prince wished that half of his ashes are spread at sea and the rest to be buried in the private garden at Fredensborg.
It is not my wish to report every single detail from the ceremony, because I believe you have already heard everything you need. I only wish to pay him and his family respect with my words. I want to share my deepest and sincere condolence with the family. We haven't just lost a Prince; they lost a father, a husband, a grandfather and a friend. The family will, form now on, have to live without a very important person. From now on we also have to stick to what memories he left us with and he gave us so many good things to remember. May his memory be with all of us and his soul rest in peace.