Putin offers condolences to Danish queen Margrethe II over her husband's death

Moscow [Russia], Feb 14 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered condolences to Danish Queen Margrethe in wake of her husband's demise.

Prince Henrik passed away on Tuesday, he was 83.

"Your Majesty, allow me to offer my deepest condolences over the death of your husband Prince Henrik. I share your grief and wish that you and all members of the Danish royal family will have enough courage and resilience to face this dark hour," reported Russian news agency TASS, citing the message published on the Kremlin website on Wednesday, as saying.

The press service of the Royal Danish House informed about Prince Henrik's demise in a statement on Wednesday.

"His Royal Highness Prince Henrik died peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, 13 February at 11.18pm, at Fredensborg Palace. Her Majesty the Queen and the two sons were at his side," the statement read.

Prince Henrik felt unwell while on a vacation in Egypt two weeks ago.

After being examined by local doctors, he was taken to Denmark. He was admitted to a Copenhagen hospital since January 28 and was discharged on his own request on Tuesday, the TASS reported.

A medical examination earlier revealed that he had a lung infection. A pulmonary infection was said to be the cause of his illness.

Last year, Prince Henrik shockingly announced that he did not want to be buried next to his wife. The Royal Danish House had announced later that Prince Henrik was suffering from dementia.

The Royal Danish House had summoned his son, Crown Prince Frederik, last week from Pyeongchang in South Korea saying that his father's health had "seriously worsened".

Born on June 11, 1934, in southwestern France as Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat, he later changed his former name to Prince Henrik after marrying then Denmark's future queen, Margrethe II in 1967.

Henrik initially lived his first five years in French Indochina. He graduated from universities in Paris and Hong Kong in 1958-59. He also learned Mandarin and Vietnamese.

Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik also owned a chateau in southwestern France where they used to retreat every summer.

Prince Henrik is survived by his wife, sons Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, and eight grandchildren. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI