Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark star in brand new gala portraits just shared by the Danish royal family and it’s raised questions about whether the pair are about to return to the palace fold.
The Danish Royal Court has shared the official portraits of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie in March but they were taken before the annual New Year’s Banquet on January 1 2025.
Joachim and Marie currently live in Washington with their family and the prince has been working as a defence attache at the Danish embassy there. However, in recent months the couple have taken on an increasing number of high profile engagements for Denmark’s royals, leading to questions about whether they might be coming back to Copenhagen.
The portraits were taken by photographer Les Kaner at Amalienborg Palace and Princess Marie wore a favourite family tiara for her photos, choosing Princess Dagmar’s Diamond Floral Tiara.
The diamond tiara features two large floral elements, as well as three smaller. It’s first known owner was Princess Dagmar of Denmark, the youngest child of King Frederik VIII of Denmark and Queen Louisa (of Sweden). Historians believe the tiara may have originally belonged to her mother, but this has not been confirmed.
Upon Dagmar’s death in 1961, it is thought that the tiara passed to King Frederik IX but it did not appear in public again until Queen Margrethe wore it in 1973. Margrethe continued to wear it frequently until she loaned it to Princess Marie in 2008.
Princess Marie also wore a personal pair of diamond and sapphire earrings, as well as Queen Alexandrine’s Sapphire Brooch. The brooch has a large, round cluster of diamonds surrounded by smaller diamonds and sapphires with a small suspended diamond drop. The brooch can also be worn as a pendant.
The Danish royal court said that new gala portraits were taken regularly. However, the release of these images comes after a series of appearances by the couple and just ahead of a brand new TV programme which will see Prince Joachim explore parts of Denmark’s history.
Joachim and Marie were involved in a very public row with their royal relations in 2022 when Queen Margrethe decided to take away the titles of their children. Prince Joachim has four children – two with Princess Marie and two with his former wife, Countess Alexandra. All four lost their HRH and their title of prince or princess and are now known as Count or Countess. Prince Joachim and Princess Marie both spoke openly about how hurt they were by the decision.
In 2024, when Queen Margrethe II abdicated in favour of her elder son who became King Frederik X, only Prince Joachim returned to Copenhagen for the ceremony with Princess Marie staying in America. However, in the later parts of 2024, Princess Marie carried out several duties for the Danish royals.
The new portraits once again raise the possibility of the prince and princess taking a higher profile role within the Danish royal family once more.
