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Crown Prince Frederik with his mother Queen Margrethe II: "I myself am interested in the Danish monarchy remaining slim in the long term"
Photo:
Bernd von Jutrczenka / dpa
The Danish royal family has been arguing unusually openly for weeks about the withdrawal of the prince titles for the four children of Prince Joachim, the younger son of Queen Margrethe II. Only one has held back so far: Crown Prince Frederik.
Now the older brother of Prince Joachim, whose family branch is not affected by a title withdrawal, has broken his silence.
The 54-year-old demonstratively backed the queen in the dispute.
"My mother made a decision that is entirely hers and I understand that," the heir to the throne told TV2.
Prince Frederik speaks of differences of opinion
At the end of September, the Danish royal family announced the decision of the monarch that Joachim's children should only be called Countess or Count von Monpezat in the future.
Prince Joachim has sons Nikolai and Felix from his first marriage to Countess Alexandra, and Henrik and Athena to his wife Princess Marie.
Joachim was surprised by the decision that his four children should be deprived of the title of prince.
He himself appeared emotionally in front of the press and was deeply affected by the decision, which the Queen is sticking to despite all the debate.
"It's sad to see how much the decision affected him," said Crown Prince Frederik in the direction of Prince Joachim.
"Of course that makes an impression on his only brother."
The dispute did not affect the relationship between the two, said Frederik.
"I am in constant contact with my brother, I always have been." However, he admitted that there was a "disagreement in my family" over the titles of Prince Joachim's children, but that it was a family matter.
However, the relationship between the two brothers, with Prince Frederik as heir to the throne, has harbored the potential for conflict for years.
In the title dispute, his wife, Crown Princess Mary from Australia, had already spoken out – and defended Queen Margrethe II's decision.
With a view to the crown prince couple's own children, who in future are to bear the title of prince, she said: "In due course we will also look at the titles of our children."
Crown Prince Frederik is now confirming this.
He said: "I myself am interested in the Danish monarchy remaining slim in the long term, so I support the decision my mother made."
apr/dpa