Prince Joachim of Denmark has said his children have been ”hurt” by the decision to take away their princely titles.
Speaking to Ekstra Bladet, the prince said ”We are all very sorry. It’s never fun to see your children hurt like that.”
On September 28th 2022, the Danish Royal Court announced that Joachim’s four children would lose their royal status and titles and be known as Count or Countess of Monpezat. The ruling takes effect from January 1st 2023.
It affects his two sons from his first marriage, Prince Nikolai, 23, and Prince Felix, 20, and his children from his second marriage, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10.
Prince Joachim spoke just hours after the announcement was made. A reporter approached him outside the Danish embassy in Paris – the prince and his family have lived in the city for several years.
Clearly emotional, the second son of Queen Margrethe II said of his children ”they are in a situation they themselves do not understand.”
And he reacted to an announcement from the Royal Court that he had been involved in discussions around the decision since May. He told the reporter that he had been informed of the announcement just five days before it was made, adding ”In May, I was presented with a plan that basically stated that when the children turn 25, it would happen. Athena turns 11 in January….”
There was further controversy when the prince was asked what effect the decision had had on his relationship with his mother. He said, simply, ”I don’t think I need to elaborate on that now.”
Soon after the announcement was made, Joachim’s former wife, Alexandra, spoke to newspaper BT on behalf of the whole family. She said ”We are all confused by the decision. We are saddened and in shock. This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracised. They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them.”
Queen Margrethe was asked about the move as she arrived at the National Museum on the evening of September 28th 2022. She said ”It is a consideration I have had for quite a long time, and I think it will be good for them in their future, and that is the reason.”
However, when asked about her grandchildren being upset at the move, she became flustered, saying “Well, you have to see how you… I haven’t seen it myself, I must say…”
Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik and Princess Athena will all keep their positions in the line of succession.
