Copenhagen - Denmark's Prince Henrik,
husband of Queen Margrethe, died on Tuesday night at Fredensborg
Castle, the Royal House said in a statement.
He was 83, and had been diagnosed with a benign tumour two
weeks ago.
"His Royal Highness Prince Henrik died peacefully in his
sleep ...," the statement said. "Her Majesty the Queen and the
two sons were at his side."
The French-born prince had been hospitalised following an
illness that began during a private trip to Egypt.
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".
Prince Henrik sparked controversy in August 2017 when he
announced he did not wish to be buried next to the Queen,
breaking a 459 years old tradition. He said he was unhappy she
had never acknowledged him as her equal.
Shortly after, the palace announced that Prince Henrik was
suffering from dementia.
He formerly held the title of Prince Consort but renounced
that title when he retired from his official duties in 2016.
He had often spoken of his frustration at being denied the
title of King instead of Prince Consort. In Denmark, a princess
traditionally becomes queen when her husband takes the throne,
but a man does not become king when the roles are reversed.
After a 2009 Danish referendum supported the equality of the
sexes in the royal succession, Henrik remarked: "I hope that men
will be as equal as girls," spurring further debate and briefly
finding support in parliament in favour of allowing Prince
Henrik the title of king.
But no law was ever passed.
Both loved and critized by the Danes for his aristocratic
manner, best exemplified by his colorful clothes and thick
French accent, in recent years Henrik found support particularly
amongst the Danish youth for breaking with the Danish norms of
cultural uniformity.
In 2016, the Prince renounced his title of Prince Consort
and retired from his official duties. Thereafter he spent much
of his time at his private vineyard in Château de Cayx, France,
although he remained married to the Queen and was officially
still living with her.
Known for his love of wine and food, the Prince was also a
passionate artist, producing several poems, sculptures and
cooking books.
Born Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat in France
in 1934, he married Margrethe in 1967. Henrik has two sons with
the queen, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.