Denmark's Prince Henrik died 'peacefully in his sleep' on Tuesday, February 13 at 11.18pm at the age of 83

Prince Henrik with wife Queen Margrethe of Denmark in 2012

The Royal flag is on half mast at Amalienborg due to the death of Prince Henrik, husband to Queen Margrethe I, who died yesterday evening at Fredensborg Palace, on February 14, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Prince Henrik died 'peacefully in his sleep' late on Tuesday at Fredensborg Palace. This morning people arrived to leave flowers outside

A later statement said Prince Henrik died at 11.18pm in his sleep and that Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and their children, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, and Prince Joachim of Denmark were at his side. Pictured: People leave flowers at Fredensborg Castle this morning.

Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary (pictured together in 2013) will become King and Queen of Denmark at the time of Queen Margrethe's abdication or death.

Speculation has mounted since early last year that Queen Margrethe II, would abdicate - which would mean Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik would be Queen and King (picutred)

The Royal Danish family led by Queen Margrethe at the entrance to The Government Hospital where they visit the critically ill Prince Henrik on February 10, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Prince has been hospitalized since January 28th, and Friday the Royal Court announced that his condition has worsened and was critical. Crown Prince Frederik - an IOC member, returned Friday from South Korea a few hours before the opening show of The Olympic Games.

Danish Queen Margrethe's husband Prince Henrik (pictured together) had been transferred from hospital to the family's residence north of Copenhagen, 'where he wished to spend his last moments'

Over recent days, Queen Margrethe II (center-L) and members of the royal family including Crown Prince Frederik (2nd-L), Crown Princess Mary (L), Prince Joachim and Princess Marie (R) have together or individually visited the Prince Consort (center-R)

 Prince Henrik retired from public service in 2016 pictured with Queen Margrethe of Denmark at a New Year's banquet in 2015

French-born Prince Henrik, husband of Queen Margrethe II (pictured together), was first admitted to hospital on January 28, 2018 with a lung infection - he was later diagnosed with a benign tumour

The Royal couple Prince Henrik and Queen Margrethe II (pictured in 2014) have hosted countless royal wedding parties, banquets and state dinners.

The Prince first moved to Denmark from France in 1967 ahead of his June wedding to the then-Crown Princess (pictured with Queen Margrethe II, Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik in 2014)

The Royal couple Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik attended the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik, their son, and Australian, Mary Donaldson, in 2004 (pictured)

Prince Henrik (pictured with his family on Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's wedding day) lived part of the year with the queen at Fredensborg Palace

(L-R) Prince Henrik (pictured with Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Margrethe II and Prince Phillip) had an affinity for writing poetry, which he wrote in his native language, French

Prince Henrik (pictured together with Queen Margrethe II at their 60th birthday celebrations in Denmark) changed his name from the French, Henri, when he arrived in Denmark

(L-R) Prince Henrik is a Prince Consort, not a King, as is traditional for men married to female monarchs (pictured with British Queen Elizabeth, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and Prince Phillip )

Prince Henrik, the French-born husband of Danish monarch Queen Margrethe II, has died at the age of 83. The couple are pictured with their children Prince Joachim and Prince Frederik in 1970

Prince Henrik of Denmark with son Prince Frederik in 1968

Prince Henrik had long vented his frustration at not being the social equal of his wife or their son in line to become Denmark's King. He is pictured (left) at the New Year's Diplomatic Reception, Christiansborg Palace, Copenhagen in 2015

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik are pictured with their two children Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim in 1970

Queen Margrethe II (2nd-R) and Prince Henrik of Denmark (L) are pictured with British Queen Elizabeth (2nd-L) and the Duke of Edinburgh (R)  at Windsor Castle in April 1974

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark is pictured, left, with husband Prince Henrik at the Anglo-Danish Society's Jubilee dinner and dance at the Royal Garden Hotel, London in 1974.

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary along with their children Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine are pictured outside a hospital in Copenhagen after visiting Henrik on Sunday on February 11, 2018

Speculation about Queen Margrethe II (pictured with Crown Princess Mary) intensified in September, when it was revealed Prince Henrik was suffering with dementia.

Last year, Prince Henrik of Denmark (pictured in 2015), accused his wife Queen Margrethe II of Denmark of not showing him the respect 'a normal wife must give her spouse' - because he was never made king

Crown Princess Mary pictured in 2017 - However, the editor of the The Australian Women's Weekly and author of The Royals In Australia, Juliet Rieden said an abdication by Queen Margrethe would be very unlikely. 'I talked to a lot of people in Denmark about this and the consensus is that Queen Margrethe is very unlikely to abdicate,' she told FEMAIL

Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark was pictured with his children Prince Isabella and Prince Vincent, visiting Prince Henrik at hospital in Copenhagen on February 10, 2018

Prince Henrik (pictured with Princess Isabella of Denmark (R) and Princess Josephine along with Queen Margrethe II and Prince Nikolai) passed away at Fredensborg Palace - in an 'environment that matters to him', according to Danish media

Last year, Prince Henrik of Denmark (pictured in 2015), accused his wife Queen Margrethe II of Denmark of not showing him the respect 'a normal wife must give her spouse' - because he was never made king

Danish Crown Prince Frederik (right), his wife Crown Princess Mary (left) and children arrive by car at Fredensborg Palace, in Fredensborg this morning, February 14, 2018

Danish Prince Joachim (right), his wife Princess Marie (left) and children were also seen arriving at Fredensborg Palace today, February 14, 2018

Queen Margrethe of Denmark (2ndL) leaves Rigshospitalet Hospital after visiting her husband Prince Henrik, whose health condition have been reported in critical condition, on February 9, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Prince Henrik, 83, was hospitalized on January 28, for a lung infection with doctors saying they had found a benign tumour in his left lung.

Denmark's Prince Joachim and Princess Marie (R) leaves the Government Hospital where they together with the rest of the Royal family visited the critically ill Prince Henrik on February 10, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Queen Margrethe at the entrance to The Government Hospital where she waits for the other members of the Royal family who will visit the critically ill Prince Henrik on February 10, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Crown Prince Frederik and children Princess Isabella and Prince Vincent arrive to the Government Hospital where they together with the rest of the Royal family will visit the critically ill Prince Henrik on February 10, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Princess Isabella at the Government Hospital where she together with the rest of the Royal family will visit the critically ill Prince Henrik on February 10, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Queen Margrethe departs from the Government Hospital where she together with the rest of the Royal family visited the critically ill Prince Henrik on February 10, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The visit took 45 minutes. The Prince has been hospitalized since January 28th, and Friday the Royal Court announced that his condition has worsened and was critical. Crown Prince Frederik - an IOC member, returned Friday from South Korea a few hours before the opening show of The Olympic Games.

A general view of Fredensborg Palace where it is believed the critically ill Prince Henrik of Denmark will spend his last days with his family on February 13, 2018 in Fredensborg, Denmark. The Prince has been hospitalized since January 28th and on Friday the Royal Court announced that his condition has worsened and was critical. The Prince arrived at Fredensborg at 1pm today with the Royal press department announcing in a press release that the seriousness of his condition remains unchanged.

A Bouquet of flower at Amalienborg Palace with a crown and a message which reminds about the deceased Prince Henriks year long frustration of not being put on the same footing as his wife, Queen Margrethe, on February 14, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The text read: R.I.P. King Henrik. The coffin with the Prince will be transferred from Fredensborg Palace to Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen tomorrow morning.

Danes and tourists lay flowers at the stairs to Amalienborg Palace in memory of Prince Henrik, husband to Queen Margrethe, who died yesterday evening at Fredensborg Palace, on February 14, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The coffin with the Prince will be transferred from Fredensborg Palace to Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen tomorrow morning.

The Royal flag is on half mast at Amalienborg due to the death of Prince Henrik, husband to Queen Margrethe, who died yesterday evening at Fredensborg Palace, on February 14, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The coffin with the Prince will be transferred from Fredensborg Palace to Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen tomorrow morning.

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II was seen smiling at the floral tributes which had been laid out to honour Prince Henrik at Fredensborg Palace

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II was seen smiling at the floral tributes which had been laid out to honour Prince Henrik at Fredensborg Palace

Danish Crown Prince Frederik (center) and Princess Mary (rear, knelt down) lead Princes Christian (front), Vincent (second front), and Princess Isabella (center) to look at floral tributes to Prince Henrik

Yesterday thousands lined the streets to pay their respects to Prince Henrik of Denmark. Hundreds of bunches of flowers were left outside the Amalienborg Palace

The coffin of Prince Henrik of Denmark will be on display until the private funeral on Tuesday which will be attended by his friends and family only

The palace has said it will respect Prince Henrik's wish to be cremated, with half his ashes to be spread over Danish seas

A soldier watches on as the Royal Family leave after watching the transfer of Prince Henrik's coffin  into Christiansborg Palace

Denmark's Prince Henrik caused a scandal last August by announcing that when he died he did not want to be buried next to Queen Margrethe II in the cathedral where the remains of Danish royals have gone for centuries.

The coffin of Denmark's Prince Henrik, which was draped in a Danish flag bearing the royal coat of arms, has arrived at Christiansborg Palace, after his family paid their respects privately.

The Royal family watch as soldiers from the Royal Guard carry the coffin of deceased Prince Henrik of Denmark into the Parliament's church on February 16, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The coffin will remain in the church for the public to show their last respect (Castrum Doloris) from Saturday to Monday. The funeral service will take place Tuesday February 20. The Prince died at the Royal couple's summer residence Fredensborg Palace late Tuesday evening this week.

Across the country, Danish flags were at half-mast and gun salutes echoed through the capital at dawn, in honor of deceased Prince Henrik, before his white coffin left the castle he loved.

The Royal family watch as soldiers from the Royal Guard carry the coffin of deceased Prince Henrik of Denmark into the Parliament's church on February 16, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The coffin will remain in the church for the public to show their last respect (Castrum Doloris) from Saturday to Monday. The funeral service will take place Tuesday February 20, 2018

Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, and Prince Isabella (pictured) also attended the transfer of the coffin

Danish Royal Family members attended the transfer of the coffin to Christiansborg Palace from L-R: Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine, Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Vincent, Prince Christian, Queen Margrethe II, Prince Joachim, Prince Henrik Carl, Princess Marie, Princess Athena, Prince Felix and Prince Nikolai

(L-R) Denmark's Princess Marie, Prince Felix, Prince Nikolai, Princess Athena, Prince Joachim and Prince Henrik Carl attended the transfer of the coffin of deceased Prince Henrik, Consort of Denmark at Christiansborg Palace

The Danish Royal family looked on as guards carried deceased Prince Henrik's coffin into Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen earlier this evening, from left to right: Princess Isabella, Crown Princess Mary, Princess Josephine, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Vincent, Prince Christian, Queen Margrethe II, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and Prince Henrik Carl