Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II’s late husband Prince Henrik organised all of the flowers from his funeral to be made into a "blooming garden" before his death.
The Danish royal passed away at the age of 83 after having been in hospital for a lung infection, and after he was laid to rest on Tuesday (20.02.18), all of the wreaths and flowers were kept as one last "surprise" for his widow.
Alongside a photograph of the masses of flowers, the Danish royal family wrote on Instagram: "The queen was met by a sea of flowers at the Christiansborg Palace Church.
"In his speech, the bishop quoted the Prince’s wedding speech to the queen: ‘I came from a country of flowers into a blossoming garden. Lilac and golden rain, elderflower and peonies, flowers in parks, fields and forests. But the girl, however, was the garden’s single most beautiful adornment.’ It was Prince Henrik’s wish to surprise the queen one last time. Therefore, the wreaths and flowers were arranged as a blooming garden. (sic)"
Henrik’s loved ones got the chance to say their final goodbyes at a private service in Copenhagen.
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.
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 wanted his funeral flowers to be turned into garden for wife
