Don’t bury me with queen, says bitter prince

DENMARK’S Prince Consort Henrik, the French-born husband of Queen Margrethe II, does not want to be buried with his wife when the time comes, breaking with tradition.

The 83-year-old prince, long frustrated over being relegated to a supporting role, said he was not on an equal footing with his wife in life and therefore did not want to be so in death. The decision has been accepted by the queen, the palace’s communications chief Lene Balleby told the Danish daily newspaper BT. A second palace spokesman confirmed the accuracy of the report to AFP.

Disappointed that his title of prince consort was not changed to king when his wife became queen in 1972, Henrik has often spoken out about his discontent, which did little to endear him to his subjects. The couple will break with tradition by not being buried to- gether in Roskilde Cathedral.

The prince consort none the less intends to be buried in Denmark, “but the details have not been settled yet”, Ms Balleby said.

Henrik met Margrethe, then the crown-princess, while he was stationed in London as a diplomat. Upon marrying her in 1967, he renounced his French citizenship. Henrik retired from public service in January last year.