The husband of Denmark's Queen Margrethe is causing a stir in one of the world's oldest monarchies.

Prince Henrik has announced he won't be buried next to Margrethe in the Roskilde cathedral, where Danish royals have been buried since 1559. She has had a specially designed sarcophagus made for the couple there.

"Traditions are important to all monarchies so this is felt pretty violently," said Lars Hovbakke Soerensen, an expert in Danish history.

Lene Balleby, the spokeswoman for Denmark's royal house, told Danish tabloid newspaper BT that the France-born Henrik has "for years been dissatisfied with his role and the title."

Margrethe acceded to the throne in 1972 and became Denmark's first female monarch in centuries. The 83-year-old prince has long complained that he didn't become king instead.

"The decision not to be buried beside the queen is the natural consequence of not having been treated equally in relation to his spouse," Balleby was quoted as saying.

"Any man who is not equal to his spouse is not worthy to be buried in the same grave," Henrik said Friday, according to the Ekstra Bladet tabloid.

A change to the Danish Constitution in 1953 allowed female succession, paving the way for Margrethe to become the monarch. Even before that, Henrik wouldn't have become king.

"This is the culmination of his grumbling in the past...a way to say to Danes and Denmark, 'Thanks, but no thanks,'" Hovbakke Soerensen said.

The palace said Thursday that Margrethe, 77, has accepted Henrik's decision, adding it didn't change her burial plans.

Henrik, who retired from public life last year, said through the royal household that he wanted to be buried in Denmark, but didn't say where.

Born Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat, he met Margrethe in London when he was a diplomat with the French Embassy. He changed his name to Henrik, converted to Denmark's state Lutheran Church and became prince consort. The couple has two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.</s>Prince Henrik of Denmark looks set to launch an eternal protest after announcing he does not wish to be buried next to his wife, Queen Margrethe, over the refusal to name him king.

The 83-year-old prince has been unhappy with his title since being named prince consort -- rather than king consort -- upon the couple's marriage in 1967.

"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," the palace's communications chief, Lene Balleby, told Danish tabloid BT.

"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."

Ballenby added that the decision had been accepted by the queen.

said that "the Queen has for some time been familiar with the decision of His Royal Highness and acknowledges the decision." statement published by the Royal House, said that "the Queen has for some time been familiar with the decision of His Royal Highness and acknowledges the decision." The statement also rejected claims that Prince Henrik would be buried in his native France and said he would be laid to rest in Denmark at the appropriate time, although not in Roskilde Cathedral as had been planned. The prince, who retired from public life last year, was born Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat in France in 1934. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark waves to well wishers outside the All Saints' church in Wittenberg, eastern Germany, on October 2, 2016. The queen, 77, is still expected to be buried at the Roskilde Cathedral in a sarcophagus created by Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard. The royal couple have two sons.</s>Prince 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 royal palace said Thursday.

Long vocal about his frustration over being relegated to a supporting role, the 83-year-old prince said he was not on equal footing with his wife in life and therefore did not want to be so in death.

That decision has been accepted by the queen, the palace's communications chief Lene Balleby told Danish daily BT.

A second palace spokesman confirmed the accuracy of the newspaper report to AFP but provided no other details.

Disappointed that his royal title of prince consort was never 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 royal tradition by not being buried together in the Roskilde Cathedral.

The prince consort nonetheless intends to be buried in Denmark.

He "loves Denmark and worked for Denmark for more than 50 years. The prince therefore wants to be buried in Denmark, but the details have not been settled yet," Balleby said.

Born Henri Marie Jean Andre Count de Laborde de Monpezat on June 11, 1934 in Talence, near Bordeaux, he met Margrethe, then the crown princess, while he was stationed in London as a diplomat.

Upon marrying her, he changed his name to Henrik, converted from Catholicism to Protestantism and renounced his French citizenship to become a Dane.

By the time Margrethe acceded to the throne, the couple had two young children: Prince Frederik, born in 1968, and Joakim, born in 1969.

READ ALSO: Denmark's queen: Living here doesn't make you Danish</s>FILE - Danish Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik arriving to Aarhus Harbour aboard the Royal Yacht Dannebrog in this file photo dated June 23, 2017. Prince Henrik announced Thursday Aug. 3, 2017, he won't be buried next to Margrethe in the specially designed sarcophagus made for them in Roskilde cathedral, where Danish royals have been buried since 1559, without giving any reason for his decision. (Mikkel Berg Pedersen/Ritzau FILE via AP)

FILE - In this file photo dated June 7, 2017, Denmark's Prince Henrik poses for a photo in Copenhagen. Prince Henrik announced Thursday Aug. 3, 2017, he won't be buried next to Margrethe in the specially designed sarcophagus made for them in Roskilde cathedral where Danish royals have been buried since 1559, without giving any reason for his decision.

The husband of Denmark's Queen Margrethe is causing a stir in one of the world's oldest monarchies.

Prince Henrik has announced he won't be buried next to Margrethe in the Roskilde cathedral, where Danish royals have been buried since 1559. She has had a specially designed sarcophagus made for the couple there.

"Traditions are important to all monarchies so this is felt pretty violently," said Lars Hovbakke Soerensen, an expert in Danish history.

Lene Balleby, the spokeswoman for Denmark's royal house, told Danish tabloid newspaper BT that the France-born Henrik has "for years been dissatisfied with his role and the title."

Margrethe acceded to the throne in 1972 and became Denmark's first female monarch in centuries. The 83-year-old prince has long complained that he didn't become king instead.

"The decision not to be buried beside the queen is the natural consequence of not having been treated equally in relation to his spouse," Balleby was quoted as saying.

"Any man who is not equal to his spouse is not worthy to be buried in the same grave," Henrik said Friday, according to the Ekstra Bladet tabloid.

A change to the Danish Constitution in 1953 allowed female succession, paving the way for Margrethe to become the monarch. Even before that, Henrik wouldn't have become king.

"This is the culmination of his grumbling in the past...a way to say to Danes and Denmark, 'Thanks, but no thanks,'" Hovbakke Soerensen said.

The palace said Thursday that Margrethe, 77, has accepted Henrik's decision, adding it didn't change her burial plans.

Henrik, who retired from public life last year, said through the royal household that he wanted to be buried in Denmark, but didn't say where.

Born Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat, he met Margrethe in London when he was a diplomat with the French Embassy. He changed his name to Henrik, converted to Denmark's state Lutheran Church and became prince consort. The couple has two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.</s>Prince Henrik of Denmark has refused to be buried next to his wife, Queen Margrethe II, because he is still seething at being called a prince rather than a king. The 83-year-old prince consort said his decision was the result of gender discrimination he has been subjected to since marrying the 77-year-old monarch in 1967.

The royal couple were expected to be laid to rest in the custom-made sarcophagus at the Roskilde Cathedral when their time comes. However, Prince Henrik has said he would not use the space reserved for him because he felt that he was not treated equally. His wife is said to have accepted his decision.

“It makes me angry that I am subjected to discrimination,” he told the French paper Le Figaro (via People). “Denmark, which is otherwise known as an avid defender of gender equality, is apparently willing to consider husbands as worth less than their wives.”

The Royal Danish House’s director of communications also confirmed to tabloid BT (via BBC) that the prince has been unhappy with his role and title. “For the prince, the decision not to be 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.”

Prince Henrik got the title prince consort instead, which is the traditional title for the husband of a reigning queen. He renounced the title in April 2016 and has since been called His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark.

Born Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat, he married the then Princess Margrethe, the heir presumptive to the throne, in 1967. His name was Danicised to Henrik. Although he would not want to be buried next to his wife, he would still want to be buried in Denmark, not his native France.

This is not the first time Henrik has lamented his position in the royal household. In 2002, he fled to France for three weeks after he claimed that his royal status had been downgraded in favour of his firstborn son, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark.

“For many years I have been Denmark’s number two,” he said at that time. “I’ve been satisfied with that role, but I don’t want to be relegated to number three after so many years.”

Henrik is not the only man who isn’t the king to their queen wife. The UK’s Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, has been occupying the role of consort to Queen Elizabeth II since they married in 1947.</s>Denmark's Prince Henrik has announced that he will not be buried next to wife Queen Margrethe after he dies.

The decision is part of a long-running feud between the pair over his title, Danish media reported.

Henrik was upset not to be named king consort after she ascended to the throne in 1972. He was named prince consort instead. The pair married in 1967.

A statement from the royal house said: 'The Queen has for some time been familiar with the decision of His Royal Highness and acknowledges the decision.

'The Prince's decision does not change The Queen's funeral plans.'

It was expected that the pair would be buried side by side in Roskilde Cathedral under a sarcophagus lid prepared specially by sculptor Bjørn Nørgaard.

There were reports that French-born Henrik made the request because he wanted to be buried in his home country, but the royal household said this was not true.

'The Prince’s wish to be buried in Denmark remains, but the circumstances are not yet in place,' a spokesman said.

Palace communications chief, Lene Balleby, told Danish tabloid BT: '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.'</s>Prince Henrik of Denmark has announced that after his death, he will not be buried next to his wife Queen Margrethe II. The decision is a result of a long-running dispute between the pair over his 83-year-old prince’s title, as reported by the Danish media. Henrik was upset not to be named king consort after the queen ascended to the throne in 1972. He was named prince consort instead. And it was decades of frustration over what he sees as discrimination. Lene Balleby, the Royal Danish House’s director of communications, was quoted by the Danish tabloid newspaper BT as saying, “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.” He added, “This discontent has grown more and more in recent years.”

The pair married in 1967. And the royal couple were expected to be laid to rest in the custom-made sarcophagus at the Roskilde Cathedral when their time comes. However, Prince Henrik has said he would not use the space reserved for him because he felt that he was not treated equally. While according to the statement from the royal house said that the Queen and has for some time been familiar with the decision of His Royal Highness and that she has accepted the decision.

As per the report by Daily Mail, Prince made the request because he wanted to be buried in his home country, but the royal household said this was not true. A spokesman was quoted as saying that the Prince’s wish to be buried in Denmark remains, but the circumstances are not yet in place.</s>Prince Henrik of Denmark has announced that he does not wish to be buried next to his wife, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, saying he is unhappy he was never acknowledged as her equal.

Henrik, 83, married Queen Margrethe in 1967 and was later named prince consort. But he has repeatedly said he would have liked to be named king consort.

“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,” the palace’s communications chief, Lene Balleby, told the tabloid BT.

“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.”

That decision has been accepted by the queen, Balleby said.

Prince Henrik retired last year and renounced his title of prince consort. Since then he has participated in very few official duties and instead spent much of his time at his private vineyard in France, although he is still married to the queen and they officially live together.

In Denmark, a princess traditionally becomes queen when her husband takes the throne.

It had been expected that the prince would be buried next to the queen, 77, who is to be interred in Roskilde Cathedral in a sarcophagus made by Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard.

Born Henri Marie Jean André de Laborde de Monpezat on 11 June 1934 in Talence, near Bordeaux, he met Margrethe, then the crown-princess, while he was stationed in London as a diplomat.

On marrying her, he changed his name to Henrik, converted from Catholicism to Protestantism and renounced his French citizenship to become a Dane.

By the time Margrethe acceded to the throne, the couple had two young children: Prince Frederik, born in 1968, and Joakim, born in 1969.</s>Not since Hamlet questioned whether it was nobler to be or not be has the death, and afterlife, of a Danish prince captured so much attention.

For, in a stunt as dramatically morbid as anything Shakespeare might have dreamed up, the 83-year-old Prince Henrik of Denmark has declared that he does not wish to be buried alongside his spouse, 77-year old Queen Margrethe II, the constitutional head of state.

Prince Henrik’s decision to pass on the opportunity to lie for eternity alongside his bride in a glass sarcophagus borne by silver elephants and crafted by Danish artist Bjørn Nørgaard at Roskilde Cathedral, about 35 kilometers outside of Copenhagen, is not being made on grounds of humility.

In fact, rather the opposite: the Prince’s decision is in fact an eternal protest at never having been made king, despite being married to the queen.

Henrik, 83, is French by birth. He was born Count Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, married Queen Margrethe in 1967 and was given the title prince consort. But he has repeatedly said he would have liked to be named king consort, or, you know, ‘King’ for short. Henrik has long argued that he is the victim of gender discrimination, as a woman who married a king would indeed become Queen of Denmark.

“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,” the palace’s communications chief, Lene Balleby, told the Danish tabloid newspaper BT. “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.”

The Prince’s decision has been accepted by the queen, Balleby said.

The Queen and Henrik have two children but are not believed to be particularly close; he spends much of his time at his vineyard in France, although he is still married to the queen and they officially live together.

“The first hint came around his 50th birthday when he said on TV he found it difficult to ask his wife for pocket money for cigarettes,” Stephanie Surrugue, who wrote a biography of the prince, who is widely reputed to be Europe’s grumpiest royal, told the New York Times.

“He should try to be a Dane before he tries to be king," Sasha Filskov, a 43-year-old Danish-born interior designer now living in London, said. "A Danish prince would not be worrying about equality in that way. Danes strive for equality in a proper, meaningful way. He doesn’t represent Danish values, he is just representing outdated French values.

“Margrethe is the coolest royal in the world. She cycles everywhere, even though she is in her 70s, and wears jeans. It’s just sad that Henrik has lived in Denmark all his life but completely and missed the point of what being Danish means. She’ll be better off without him.”</s>Denmark's Prince Henrik has announced that he does not plan to be buried with his wife, Queen Margrethe II, because he is upset about the fact that he was never made King Consort.

The pair have been married since 1967. And over the years, Henrik has repeatedly expressed his feeling that he has been slighted.

"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," the Royal Danish House's director of communications told tabloid BT, in a quote verified and translated by Reuters.

"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," the spokesperson told the wire service.

The BBC reports that the 77-year-old queen is "said to have accepted her husband's decision."

Henrik, 83, is originally from France, and is reported to be spending most of his time at a vineyard there since he officially retired last year.

In a 2015 interview with Le Figaro, he said he is angry and feels discriminated against. "Why be only a prince and merely a Highness but not Majesty, without any status?" the Prince said. "Denmark, which is known as a fervent defender of gender equality, would be inclined to consider husbands as worth less than their wives? How can we explain to younger generations the usefulness of the monarchical system?"

According to the Danish edition of The Local, he expressed frustration about being passed over to host a 2002 event his wife's absence:



"In 2002, when Margrethe was too ill to greet guests at a New Year's event, the Royal House opted to have Crown Prince Frederik act as host. Henrik, upset about being upstaged by his own son, vocally complained that he wasn't allowed to receive guests in 'his own home'. "In a follow-up interview with BT, he said he felt humiliated to be relegated to third-place status behind his wife and son."



Queen Margrethe is expected to be buried "in the Roskilde Cathedral in a sarcophagus made by Danish artist Bjorn Norgaard," according to the BBC.
Denmark's Prince Henrik announces he won't be buried next to Queen Margrethe II in the Roskilde Cathedral where Danish royals have been buried since 1559. The 83-year-old, French-born Henrik has been dissatisfied with his non-equal role as Prince consort. The 77-year old Margrethe, who had a specially designed sarcophagus made for the couple, accepts Henrik's decision, according to a royal house spokeswoman.