Prince Henrik dead aged 83 – Denmark royal who refused to be buried next to his wife Queen Margrethe passes away

DENMARK'S Prince Henrik has died aged 83.

The prince, who had publicly refused to be buried next to his wife Queen Margrethe, bitter at never being made king, died with his family by his side overnight.

The Royal House released a statement, saying: "His Royal Highness Prince Henrik died peacefully in his sleep.

"Her Majesty the Queen and the couple's two sons were at his side."

The royal had been diagnosed with a benign tumour two weeks ago.

Henrik caused a scandal last August by announcing that when he died he didn't want to be buried next to Margrethe in the cathedral where the remains of Danish royals have gone for centuries.

The queen already had a specially designed sarcophagus waiting for the couple.

He was diagnosed with dementia last year and was hospitalised late last month with a lung infection.

Earlier in the day, Henrik was moved from a Copenhagen hospital to the family's residence north of the capital, "where he wishes to spend his last moments," the royal palace said.

Born on June 11, 1934, in southwestern France to parents with the noble titles of count and countess, Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat married Denmark's future queen in 1967.

Henri became Henrik and converted to Denmark's state Lutheran Church.

However, he found it difficult to fit in with Denmark's egalitarian lifestyle. He was titled prince consort the husband of a reigning queen but not a king and he wasn't in the line of succession his oldest son Frederik being the heir.