It appears that the British royal family does not have the monopoly on family drama. Make way for the Danes. On New Year's Eve 2023 Queen Margrethe of Denmark announced she will step down as queen and pass the monarchy down to her firstborn son Crown Prince Frederik. Her abdication will take place on January 14, 2024, after 52 years on the throne. Perhaps in preparation for this historic moment, Queen Margrethe stripped her second son Prince Joachim’s four children of their titles on New Year’s Day 2023.
Prince Joachim will attend the abdication ceremonies without his children and wife Princess Marie. It is hard not to draw parallels between Prince Joachim and the UK's Prince Harry.
In an effort to explain this, a palace spokesperson spoke to Hello! magazine. "Prince Joachim will be there, but the children go to school, there is no special reason," the spokesperson noted.
Prince Joachim is a father of four. Nikolai, Felix, Henrik, and Athena were once know as "His/Her Highness" as princes and princesses are called. They are now His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat. The title comes from their late grandfather, Prince Henrik. They retain their places in the royal line of succession.
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Prince Joachim was not pleased with this decision and spoke out about it at the time. “To tell my children that on New Year's their identity will be taken from them. I am very, very sorry to see them uncomprehending about what is happening over their heads,” he stated to the Danish paper B.T.
Prince Joachim shares Count Nikolai, 24, and Count Felix, 21, with ex-wife Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. The couple divorced in 2005. Prince Joachim married Princess Marie in 2008. They share Count Henrik, 13, and Countess Athena, 11. Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Count Henrik, and Countess Athena now live in Washington, DC. Joachim serves as a military industry attaché for the Danish Embassy.
Alexandra was also upset by the Queen’s decision. "We are all confused by the decision. We are saddened and in shock," Alexandra stated to Danish magazine Se og Hør. "This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracized. They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them."
In an effort to explain, Queen Margrethe did issue an apology. "In recent days, there have been strong reactions to my decision about the future use of titles for Prince Joachim's four children. My decision has been a long time coming,” she began.
"Holding a royal title involves a number of commitments and duties that, in the future, will lie with fewer members of the royal family,” she continued. “This adjustment, which I view as a necessary future-proofing of the monarchy, I want to take in my own time. I have made my decision as Queen, mother and grandmother, but, as a mother and grandmother, I have underestimated the extent to which much my younger son and his family feel affected. That makes a big impression, and for that I am sorry.”
"No one should be in doubt that my children, daughters-in-law and grandchildren are my great joy and pride," she concluded. "I now hope that we as a family can find the peace to find our way through this situation."
On January 14, 2024, Crown Prince Frederik will become king. His eldest son HRH Prince Christian will become HRH Crown Prince Christian. Frederik’s children all retain their titles in the shake-up.
