Prince Joachim has spoken more in-depth about his family’s upcoming move to Paris this September, telling Billed Bladet, “This is going to be great for all of us, and now both the children are completely with the plan.”
Speaking exclusively to the Danish magazine, Prince Joachim revealed that Prince Henrik and Princess Athena are on board with the move, which was announced in January.
Prince Joachim was invited to undertake military leadership training earlier this year by the French Minister of Defence, which will see him and his family – including wife Princess Marie and children Prince Henrik and Princess Athena – move to Paris in September until the summer of 2020.
A photo of the family released this year for Prince Joachim’s 50th birthday. L-R: Prince Nikolai, Princess Marie, Princess Athena, Prince Joachim, Prince Felix, and Prince Henrik. Photo: Steen Brogaard/Kongehuset
Per the Royal House’s press release at the time his training was announced, Prince Joachim will train six days a week at the École Militaire in Paris. The first part of his training will take place at the Centre for Advanced Military Studies; the second part at the Institute for Higher National Defence Studies.
Prince Joachim is the first Danish officer who has ever been invited to undertake this specialised training.
Speaking to French magazine Point de Vue in April, Princess Marie said that the move will be an excellent opportunity for her children to learn about their French heritage.
“My children don’t see my family a lot, and they don’t know their French culture very well,” said the Parisian-born princess.
“Of course, I speak to them in French, but I don’t think their French-speaking level is good enough. This move will be an important transition in their life, and I’m very pleased about that.”
Prince Henrik and Princess Athena will attend the Parc Monceau school.
Princess Marie continued that “It’s also an amazing opportunity for my husband, who will experience a new way of life, and for his high-level military career.”
In addition to his studies at the École Militaire, Prince Joachim will also study at the Institute for Higher National Defence Studies in courses in “strategic leadership and public administration, with the addition of some 70 business leaders, parliamentarians and government officials, as well as representatives from the media”, to learn about “international relations in the areas of trade, politics, culture and military disciplines” and “crisis management and experience exchange.”
The Royal House stressed that the move to Paris will not affect Prince Joachim’s or Princess Marie’s work with their charities or patronages.
“The causes are very important in both countries,” Princess Marie said.
“The only thing that can be different is the approach we have to these causes because of cultural differences…During this French parenthesis, I will continue to do what I have always done.”
