Denmark’s ailing Prince Henrik to spend ‘final moments’ at palace

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By BNO NEWS

Denmark’s ailing Prince Henrik, the husband of Queen Margrethe II, has been transferred to a royal palace north of Copenhagen where he wishes to spend the final moments of his life, the royal house said on Tuesday.

Henrik, who is 83, was hospitalized at Copenhagen’s Rigshospitalet in late January after he fell ill during a private trip to Egypt. He was later found to have a tumor on his left lung, which turned out to be benign, and was diagnosed with a pulmonary infection. He also suffers from dementia.

The royal house said on Friday that Prince Henrik’s condition had “seriously worsened,” prompting Crown Prince Frederik to cut short his visit to South Korea, where he was visiting the PyeongChang Winter Olympics as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Prince Henrik left the hospital on Tuesday and was taken to Fredensborg Palace, which is located on the shore of Lake Esrum, about 35 kilometers (21 miles) northwest of Copenhagen. “The Prince wishes to spend his final time [there],” the royal palace said, adding that his condition remains serious.

Henrik, who was born in France in 1934, married then-Crown Princess Margrethe in 1967. He has long expressed frustration over what he regards as unequal treatment of men who marry a queen: Women who marry a King become Queen Consort while men who marry a Queen become Prince Consort.

In a sign of protest, Henrik announced last year that he no longer wishes to be buried alongside the queen.

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