Per Thornit, who stood close to King Frederik for many years and was referred to as the king’s “reserve father,” has passed away at the age of 82. His widow, Ulla Thornit, confirmed the death to Billed-Bladet, a Danish magazine. Throughout his career in the royal household, Thornit left a significant mark, despite not being in the spotlight himself. He played a central role in the lives of King Frederik and Queen Mary.
Thornit’s work within the royal family began in the mid-1980s when he joined Amalienborg Palace from a position as a ministerial secretary in the Ministry of the Interior (Indenrigsministeriet). He started as a head of office in Queen Margrethe II’s (Dronning Margrethe II) cabinet secretariat and later became the head of Crown Prince Frederik’s (Kronprins Frederik) secretariat. In this role, he took care of the upbringing of the princes Frederik and Joachim from their teenage years until their marriages, preparing them for their future responsibilities. Thornit, who was legally trained, was known for his straightforward approach, which suited the princes well.
An important part of Thornit’s work also involved introducing future princesses to Denmark and the norms of the royal family. This included Alexandra Manley, who became engaged to Prince Joachim in 1995, and later Mary Donaldson, before her engagement to Crown Prince Frederik in 2003. His instruction even included classic Danish television shows such as “Matador,” which provided insights into Danish society.
In 2004, Thornit was appointed as chief of staff for the then Crown Prince couple, King Frederik and Queen Mary, a role he maintained until his retirement in 2010. After retirement and until the recent change in the throne earlier this year, he served as the master of orders in the royal household. Thornit leaves behind a lasting memory within the royal family and among the royal personalities he guided throughout the years.