Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark

Early life and background

Henrik was born into the French de Laborde de Monpezat family and raised in France. Before marrying the then-Princess Margrethe he completed periods of education and national service in France; his French origins marked his identity throughout his life in Denmark and influenced his cultural interests.

Marriage, duties and public role

Henrik married Margrethe in 1967 and became Prince Consort when she ascended the throne in 1972. As consort he supported official engagements, state visits and charitable causes. He was known for a straightforward, sometimes outspoken public persona and for taking an active interest in the arts and cultural life.

Family

• Crown Prince Frederik (b. 1968)
• Prince Joachim (b. 1969)

In 2008 the Queen conferred the hereditary title Count/Countess of Monpezat on their male-line descendants, recognising Henrik's family name within the Danish royal house.

Later years and legacy

Henrik retired from public duties in his final years and publicly expressed disappointment that he never received the style "king consort." He died in February 2018. His life prompted wider public discussion about the role and titles of royal consorts, the interaction of personal and national identity in monarchy, and the place of a foreign-born prince in Denmark's modern royal family.

Henrik also published poetry and took an active interest in cultural projects; his combination of French heritage and Danish service remains a distinctive feature of late 20th- and early 21st-century Danish royal history.