His Royal Highness Prince Henrik’s funeral has taken place in Copenhagen this morning. It was streamed lived on Denmark’s DR television channel.

In accordance with His Royal Highness’s wishes, it was a private funeral with just close friends and family. Roughly 60 people were in attendance at Christiansborg Palace Church including Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary and their children, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie and their children, Prince Joachim’s ex-wife Countess Alexandra, Princess Beneditke (sister of Queen Margrethe), King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie (Margrethe’s other sister) of Greece and the siblings of Prince Henrik.

Queen Margrethe, her sons and their spouses sat in the front row with the Queen and Prince Henrik’s eight grandchildren in the row behind. Princess Marie, who had a special bond with Prince Henrik as they were both French-born, was in tears before the funeral officially began. As the final hymn was sung, the Queen and Crown Prince were also visibly moved.

Erik Normann Svendsen, former bishop of the Copenhagen Cathedral and royal confessor, conducted the service which included several hymns, a performance by a children’s choir and a reading from Psalm 23. At its conclusion, the church bells began ringing, and a salute was fired from the Sixtus Battery and Kronborg. Flags on all public buildings were also raised to full mast.

Officers from the Royal Life Guard carried his coffin to the hearse at the funeral’s conclusion with the Danish Royal Family following close behind. A tribute was played in Stockholm’s Riddarholmskyrkan at its conclusion, as well, as His Royal Highness was a Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim. The Riddarholmskyrkan is the church where Swedish monarchs’ funerals take place.

Prince Henrik is to now be cremated with his ashes being spread in the ocean and buried in the private royal garden at Fredensborg Palace.

Last evening, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim hosted a reception at the church for 200 guests who were friends and associates of their father. Prince Henrik’s three beloved dogs were also there to say goodbye to their owner.

The Royal Danish House announced on 14 February that the Royal Court would have a month of mourning. Dark colours will be worn as the Queen, Royal Family and the Royal Court will not participate “in social or entertaining events.” It will end 14 March.

The Prince died peacefully in his sleep at 11:18 pm on 13 February at the age of 83. He was at home at Fredensborg Palace and surrounded by his wife of 50 years, Queen Margrethe and their two sons, Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.