The Queen of Denmark on stripping her grandchildren of their princely titles: “I underestimated the feelings of my son, Prince Joachim.”

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark issued a statement Monday evening regarding her decision to strip the children of her youngest son, Prince Joachim, of their prince and princess titles.

The Queen stated in the press release that she hoped the family would be calm enough to find a way through the situation, and also expressed that she had underestimated how much her son, Prince Joachim, had been affected by the situation.

The Queen stated in the statement that she is a Queen, a mother, and a grandmother, and that this decision took a long time to consider and is necessary to protect the House and the monarchy in the future, and that she wanted it to be done during her reign. She also wrote in the statement: “I now hope that as a family we can have peace of mind to find our way through this situation ourselves.”.

In a televised interview with Prince Joachim in Paris—where he lives with his wife and four children—the prince appeared visibly affected by the Queen's decision. When asked about his relationship with his mother, the Queen, he said it needed no explanation. He also expressed his regret at seeing his children hurt, as they, as a family, did not understand the decision. He mentioned that he had been informed of the idea and had asked for time to think it over, but was surprised by the speed with which the decision was made.

According to historian and royal expert Lars Hopke Sørensen, it is unusual for the Queen to issue such a statement. He commented that it is a very private matter and is also related to the fact that it has been discussed a lot in the Danish street and the media, in which members of the royal family have participated. The expert believes that Queen Margrethe took the right step by issuing the press release.

The expert pointed to three points. The first is that the Queen is holding firm in principle to her decision to deny her grandchildren from Prince Joachim the title, and she believes that the decision should help secure the future of the monarchy and the royal house as an institution, and that it is important. The other thing is that she is extending her hand to a part of the family that was severely affected by her decision, and that she wants reconciliation with this part of the family. He also believes that the Queen is also indirectly encouraging the press to ask questions about this subject to members of the royal family when they participate in various events.