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Official announcement from Denmark:
"It is with deep regret that Her Majesty The Queen has asked the Lord Chamberlain to announce:
Following a longer course of investigation, and most recently, a series of examinations conducted during late summer, a team of specialists at Rigshospitalet has now concluded that His Royal Highness Prince Henrik suffers from dementia.
The diagnosis implies a decline in The Prince’s cognitive functional level. The extent of the cognitive failure is, according to Rigshospitalet, greater than expected considering the age of The Prince, and can be accompanied by changes in behaviour, reaction patterns, judgement and emotional life and may therefore also affect the interaction with the outside world.
As a consequence of the diagnosis, The Prince will further downgrade his future activities, just as patronages and honorary memberships will be considered.
It is the wish of The Queen and the Royal Family that The Prince will have the peace and quiet as required by the situation."
Honestly, I have been expecting this news for quite some time. The news is terribly sad but finally explains behavior that has to have been distressing for all who know and love him. Hope he is afforded the privacy and dignity to live out his remaining years in peace and comfort.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It all makes sense now. May he get the care, love and peace he deserves.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that this announcement has been made. Hopefully this will bring peace for the Pirnce and compassion for the entire family. Our family is dealing with this issue. Diagnosis is paramount in dealing with this disease, as is acceptance. In a way this must be a huge relief. I wish them well. It has been a rocky ride.
ReplyDeleteThank you posting this Marlene,
ReplyDeleteI am so sad to read this, even though I suspected as much. I join the others in hoping Prince Henrik the best of care in dealing with this illness. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his entire family.
ReplyDeleteI read this on the Danish monarchy's website and came over here to see if you'd said anything on it beyond what was released. I do have experience caring for a loved one with dementia, and it. is. HORRIFIC! They're there but they're not, and you have to tell yourself constantly that what you see in their words & actions is not them. That can be tricky because they look & sound the same but their mind is altered. At least now some of his more recent comments are put into perspective! I know he's grumbled all these years about his title and position but he has been saying things in public that shocked me (not that he felt that way, but that he would look into a camera & say them).
ReplyDeleteNow I wonder whether they'll continue with the altered burial plans or revert back and say he wasn't in his right mind & would want to be with his wife.
Here's hoping they all get the peace & comfort they need. Royal or not, this is going to be a very difficult journey, likely made worse by the publicity. In the end we're all just human and unfortunately this is one of those times when money & status mean nothing.
Sad news
ReplyDeleteThis put some of the things he has said into perspective non?
ReplyDelete