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ROYAL FAMILY

Support of public helped Denmark’s Queen Margrethe cope with grief

Queen Margrethe of Denmark has spoken about her grieving process after husband Prince Henrik died earlier this year.

Support of public helped Denmark’s Queen Margrethe cope with grief
Queen Margrethe at Château de Cayx. Photo: Fred Lancelot/Ritzau Scanpix

The Queen is currently on vacation at Château de Cayx in southwestern France, where she visited many times with the late Prince Henrik, who died in February.

The late prince grew up near the French Château and also grew wine on its grounds.

“It is naturally different being here alone, but it is good to be back,” she said.

“He doesn’t come through the door and ask whether we are going to do this or that. I must decide that myself. I have to learn to live with it, and I am doing so. I have reached an age where I have many friends in the same situation,” the Queen continued.

The Queen was speaking to media just over six months after Prince Henrik passed away on February 13th.

Denmark’s monarch has taken part in several official events since then, but Thursday represented the first occasion on which she has spoken publicly about the loss of her husband.

“During the last year and a half we weren’t together as much, because his health was not so good.

“It was how it was. I am happy that the very last moments were so fine and dignified and a beautiful end to his life,” she said.

Queen Margrethe also said that public support after Prince Henrik died had offered comfort at the time.

“The way in which people supported us all was very much one of the most moving things I can imagine, and it was a huge help,” she said.

“It became a kind of wave you were able to ride through it on. It was very positive, and I was grateful for it,” she added.

READ ALSO: Danish crowds cheer Queen Margrethe on birthday appearance

WORKING IN SWEDEN

Swedish Royal Guards scrap ceremonial helmets over safety concerns

The King’s mounted Royal Guards will no longer be able to wear their iconic ceremonial helmets on parades, after the Swedish Work Environment Authority warned of serious safety concerns.

Swedish Royal Guards scrap ceremonial helmets over safety concerns

“We take the safety of our employees extremely seriously and we are going to address this immediately,” colonel Stefan Nacksten, head of the Royal Guards, wrote in a statement. 

Employed by the Armed Forces, the Royal Guards are the King’s cavalry and infantry units and are a well-known sight at ceremonies in Sweden, including at the changing of the guard at the Royal Palace of Stockholm every day in summer – a popular spectacle for Stockholmers and tourists alike.

The helmets will no longer be used by Royal Guards on horseback from July 7th, as they do not conform to safety standards for riding helmets, although guards parading on foot will still be permitted to wear them.

They are part of the 1895 parade uniforms and were last modified in 2000. The Armed Forces will now create an entirely new helmet which looks the part, but is also safe for riding.

“We’re working on finding an alternative solution as quickly as possible which meets safety requirements and can also be used during parades,” Nacksten said.

“We’ve been working long-term with this issue but now that it has been assessed [by the Swedish Work Environment Authority] we need to take measures immediately,” he added.

“This is good, and now we’re working to make sure something good comes out of this and we can get a safe riding helmet for parades in place as soon as possible.”

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