Prince Henrik of Denmark has been laid to rest at a private funeral.
The Danish royal – who was the husband of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II – passed away at the age of 83 after having been in hospital for a lung infection, and on Tuesday (20.02.18) his loved ones got the chance to say their final goodbyes at a service in Copenhagen.
Henrik’s casket was then carried out by 10 officers from Christianborg Slotskirke church, accompanied by J P Hartmann’s ‘Sørgemarch for Thorvaldsen’ – which was played after the funeral of King Frederik IX in 1972.
Margrethe and their son Crown Prince Frederik were joined by 60 dignitaries at the funeral.
Henrik chose to be cremated and have half of his ashes thrown out to sea, breaking royal tradition, and the rest buried in the grounds of Fredensborg Castle.
Announcing the passing of Henrik, his family announced in a statement: "His Royal Highness Prince Henrik died on Tuesday, February 13, at 11.18pm quietly at Fredensborg Palace. The Prince was surrounded by Her Majesty the Queen and their two sons."
The Danish royal was admitted to hospital on January 28 for the lung infection, which began during a private trip to Egypt, and during which a benign tumour was found.
Shortly before his death, he was transferred from a Copenhagen hospital back to the castle, north of the city, where he had wanted to spend "his final time".
Last year, Henrik claimed he did not wish to be buried beside his wife – which is tradition in Denmark – as he insisted she didn’t treat him as an equal during their marriage.
In August, the palace’s communications chief, Lene Balleby said: "It is no secret that the prince for many years has been unhappy with his role and the title he has been awarded in the Danish monarchy. This discontent has grown more and more in recent years.
"For the prince, the decision not to buried beside the queen is the natural consequence of not having been treated equally to his spouse – by not having the title and role he has desired."
Royal couples are traditionally buried together in Roskilde Cathedral, west of Copenhagen.
Prince Henrik of Denmark laid to rest
