Royal Profile: Prince Henrik of Denmark, Conte de Laborde de Monpézat

Prince Henrik of Denmark, Conte de Laborde de Monpézat was born 11 June 1934 as the youngest son of André de Laborde de Monpezat, Comte de Laborde de Monpezat &  Reneé de Laborde de Monpezat, Comte de Laborde de Monpezat{Source}. He has two older siblings {Source}:

1. Maurille de Laborde de Monpezat (d. 2015)
2. Françoise de Laborde de Monpezat (1932)

He was educated in Vietnam (then known as French Indo-China), France, Hong Kong, and China. His earliest educational years were spent in Vietnam, while his father was in charge of the family's industrial enterprises there{Source}. When the family returned to France in 1939, he was educated at home  for several years{Source}. In 1947, he was semt tp a Jesuti boarding school in Bordeaux, France{Source}. He attended an upper secondary school in Cahors, France for two years {Source}. In 1950, he returned to Vietnam, where he graduated from the French upper secondary school in 1952{Source}. For five years after obtaining his upper secondary education, he studied law and political science at Sorbonne while studying Chinese and Vietnamese at École Nationale des Langues Orientales {Source}.He also studied for a period in Saigon in 1958{Source}.

Prince Henrik has an extensive knowledge of military, business, and languages.  He served in the military with an infantry in Algeria from 1959-1962 {Source}. He holds the honorary rank of General and Admiral in the Danish Armed Forces{Source}. He has a background in diplomatic service{Source}. In 1962, he worked with the Asia Department of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and worked as a secretary to the FRench Embassy in London from 1963-1967{Source}. He speaks many languages-French (mother tongue), learned Danish upon moving to Denmark, and also speaks English, Chinese and Vietnamese{Source}. 

Prince Henrik has also written and translated several books. Together, with his wife, they  translated Simone de Beauvoir’s Tous les hommes sont mortels into Danish in 1981{Source}. The next year (1982), Prince Henrik published Chemin Faisant (a volume of French poetry){Source}. In 1996, Destin Oblige, his memoir, was published{Source}. In 1999, he moved on to publish a book of his favorite recipes, 

Ikke Altid Gåselever" (Not Always Goose Liver)  with Jakob Johannsen {Source}. The year after that (2000), he went back to poetry, publishing another collection of poetry, Cantabile{Source}. In 2003, he published his third volume of poetry, Les escargots de Marie Lanceline{Source}.  In 2004, he published a book in both Danish and French titles Fotos fra Prins Henriks private album (Danish title) and in French, it was  Intimité royale"  {Source}. Also in 2004 he published a book called Chateau de Caïx{Source}. In 2005, he published his fourth book of poems, in French and Danish, Murmures de vent (French) and "Hviskende brise {Source}. Also in 2005, he released another cook book, Til glæde for ganen - nye opskrifter til et kongeligt køkken{Source}. In 2007, he wrote a culture-history book wotj Barbara Zalewiski called Absolutely Magnifique – French Chefs at the Danish Court{Source}. Two years later (2009), he released a collection of poems in French, Greenlandic and Danish called Bruises on the Soul{Source}. In 2010, he was back to poetry, released in French as Roue-Libre  and Danish as Frihjul{Source}. In 2011, it was another book of poems, Fabula{Source}. In 2013, his latest poetry collection was released as La part des anges{Source}.

As a Prince Consort of Denmark, he held many appointments on national organizations, institutions, and foundations, as well as served as an honorary member of many societies{Source}.

He married Princess Margrethe of Denmark on 10 June 1967{Source}. Together, they have two sons, three daughter-in-laws (one is divorced) and eight grandchildren{Source}:

1. Crown Prince Fredrik André Henrik Christian of Denmark, Count of Monpezat (1968)
1. Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat (1972)
1. Prince Christian Valdemar Henri Jean of Denmark, Count of Monpezat (2005)
2. Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat (2007)
3. Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander of Denmark, Count of Monpezat (2011)
4. Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat (2011)
2. Prince Jochim Holger Waldemar Christian of Denmark, Count of Monpezat (1969)
1. Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg (1964, m. 1995-2005, div)
1. Prince Nikolai William Alexander Frederikof Denmark, Count of Monpezat (1999)
2. Prince Felix Henrik Valdemar Christian of Denmark, Count of Monpezat (2002)
2. Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat (2008-present)
1. Prince Henrik Carl Joachim Alain of Denmark, Count of Monpezat (2009)
2. Princess Athena Marguerite Françoise Marie of Denmark,Countess of Monpezat (2012)