
Danish royals visit Prince Henrik in hospital as his condition worsens
By Ainhoa Barcelona
As Prince Henrik of Denmark’s condition appears to be worsening, his family and friends have descended on his bedside at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen.
His wife, Queen Margrethe II, has been by his side since he fell ill, and his eldest son Crown Prince Frederik recently cut short a trip to South Korea for the Olympics to support his ailing father. Over the weekend, he was pictured visiting the hospital with his wife Crown Princess Mary and their children Prince Christian, 12, Princess Isabella, 10, and seven-year-old twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.
Henrik and Margrethe's younger son Prince Joachim was also spotted paying a visit. On Friday, Joachim was accompanied by his two sons from his first marriage to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg – Prince Nikolai, 18, and Prince Felix, 15. His wife Princess Marie was also pictured at the hospital with six-year-old Princess Athena over the weekend.
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Henrik's wife Queen Margrethe has made several visits to the hospital in recent weeks. The 77-year-old monarch cancelled her engagement at Sankt Lukas Hospice in Copenhagen on Monday in order to visit her ailing husband. Local publication BT reports that the queen visited alone and stayed for about half an hour.
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Henrik's siblings have also flewn over from France to be at his bedside. His younger sister Catherine de Monpezat, a nun from Toulouse, arrived in Denmark on Sunday. "She has arrived in Denmark. I can confirm that the prince's sister has visited him," Lene Balleby, communications director at the Danish royal palace, told BT.
Their brother Étienne de Monpezat, 75, is also on his way from France. "My sister has already visited him, and I expect myself to go to Denmark in a few hours. I'll be leaving soon," Étienne said on Monday morning. "We are obviously very concerned about his health and we hope he'll get better."
Last Friday, the Danish royal palace announced that Henrik's condition has " unfortunately greatly worsened". The update came a week after the palace revealed that doctors had found a benign tumour in the prince's lung. Henrik was transferred from the lung surgery department to the infectious department for further treatment. Upon completion of his treatment, he was expected to return to Fredensborg Palace, where his wife Margrethe is in residence.
Crown Princess Mary and children visit Henrik in hospital