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The crown prince couple Frederik and Mary, with their son, Prince Christian, in the middle
Photo:
Keld Navntoft / dpa
Prince Joachim's four children will soon lose their title of prince.
The Danish Queen Margrethe II decided that the descendants of her second-born son should be able to “design their own lives” – and announced on Wednesday that the children of her second-born son would be demoted to January 1st.
The public outcry about this was huge - and there is a feeling of exclusion in the affected branch of the family.
When a reporter from "EkstraBladet" waited for Prince Joachim in front of his workplace in the Danish embassy in Paris, he was moved and audibly struggled for composure.
His children felt hurt, you didn't expect it at the moment.
Mary: taking decision "very difficult"
Now his sister-in-law, Crown Princess Mary, has sided with the Queen.
»Change can be extremely difficult and painful.
Most have already experienced it,« she told journalists before an event in Copenhagen's Øksnehallen.
"But that doesn't mean the decision isn't right."
She's also been open to challenging her children's titles as well.
"In due course we will also look at our children's titles," said Crown Prince Frederik's wife, who is from Australia.
There is no telling what the royal family will look like when it comes time for their firstborn son, Prince Christian.
In addition to 16-year-old Christian, Prince Frederik and she have three other children: Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine and Princess Isabella.
With a view to the Queen's withdrawal of the title, Mary also spoke of a "very difficult decision" - and also that it was "very difficult to accept it".
This can be understood as a small tip against Prince Joachim, who publicly gave free rein to his feelings on Thursday.
Prince Nikolai also expressed disappointment
Prince Joachim had said: "I am very, very sad when I see how sad they are and do not understand what is happening over their heads." He asked: "Why should they be punished like this?" He said that his children will be deprived of their identity in the new year.
In fact, he is probably primarily concerned with formal recognition, because it was decided in 2016 that only the first-born grandson, Prince Christian, should receive an allowance as an adult.
Such a public conflict is completely unusual for the Danish royal family.
According to observers, an open break between the two branches of the family could now open up.
On the one hand the crown prince couple, who have been taking on more and more representative tasks for years.
On the other hand, Prince Joachim's family, in which the 23-year-old Prince Nikolai has now also expressed disappointment.
One was "shocked by this decision and how quickly it really happened," he told EkstraBladet.
The dispute also threatens to put a lasting strain on the relationship between Margrethe II and her son Prince Joachim.
When asked by the "EkstraBladet" reporter what the consequences of the denial would be, he said: "I don't think I need to elaborate on this" - and averted his eyes.
Queen Margrethe had publicly defended her decision.
She had long thought about stripping Prince Joachim's children of the title of prince and princess, she said.
"These are considerations that I've had for a long time, and I think it's good for them." entails formal membership of the royal family as an institution".
But the Danish monarchy also wants to organize itself in a leaner way.
The royal house had accordingly referred to "similar adaptations" of other royal houses.
Apr