The Danish Royal Palace has just announced in a press release that, as of January 1, 2023, the children of Prince Joachim, son of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, can no longer call themselves princes and princesses. Accordingly, Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Princess Athena, and Prince Henrik will henceforth be treated as Count and Countess of Monpezat.
The decision came as a shock to Prince Joachim's family, according to Countess Alexandra (Prince Joachim's ex-wife) and mother of Nikolai and Felix, who told BT: “We are all bewildered by the decision. We are sad and shocked; it comes like a thunderbolt, and the children feel rejected.” She added: “Prince Joachim and Princess Marie cannot understand why their identity has been taken away from them.”.
According to the press release, the decision to strip the children of their titles was made because the Queen “wants to create a framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a greater extent without being bound by special considerations and obligations, such as formal affiliation with the Royal House to which the Foundation refers.”.
The four grandchildren retain their place in the line of succession to the throne.
Nikolai and Felix are the sons of Prince Joachim and their mother is Countess Alexandra, the former wife of Prince Joachim, the son of Queen Anna Athena and Henrik, who are the sons of Prince Joachim and his current wife, Princess Marie.
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