Danish Royals Visit Vietnam

3 weeks ago 03rd Nov 14:00

Denmark's Princess Mary and Prince Frederik have travelled to Vietnam with his parents to see his father's childhood home.

The emotional trip to the country saw the royals visit the Phan Dinh Phung area where Prince Henrik - the husband of Queen Margarethe grew up.

French-born Henrik also gave his family a tour of his old house, talking about childhood memories while pointing out his much-loved areas of the garden and pagoda.

From his enthusiasm on showing them his former family home and the stories he was telling them, it was clear his childhood in Vietnam was one of the happiest times of his life

He also visited St Joseph's Cathedral to remember his grandfather Henro de Laborde de Monpezat where he movingly bowed his head in prayer for several minutes.

He then unveiled a plaque in his honour after his grandfather's grave disappeared during the war.

He lived in the country until he was five years old in 1939 in what was then French Indochina. He then returned to the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, in 1950 to attend secondary school.

An onlooker said: "The royal family clearly loved seeing all of Henrik's favourite spots.

"From his enthusiasm on showing them his former family home and the stories he was telling them, it was clear his childhood in Vietnam was one of the happiest times of his life."