Denmark's Queen takes the prince titles from grandchildren - whose parents are angry: "Sad and shocked"
Created: 09/29/2022, 21:04
By: Marcus Giebel
There is rumbling in the Danish royal family.
Because Margrethe II takes the most important titles from the children of her second son.
This enrages the prince and his ex.
Munich – In Denmark there will be three princes and one princess less next year.
None of the royals are planning to withdraw from the royal family.
Rather, the four children of Prince Joachim lose their current titles of nobility because Queen Margrethe II decreed it so.
As the royal family announced in a message to be read on Instagram, Prince Christian - as the eldest son of Crown Prince Frederik in second place in line to the throne - is to "be the Queen's only grandchild to receive an annual allowance from the state as an adult".
For this reason, the four children of Frederik's younger brother Joachim, Princes Nikolai and Felix from the first marriage to Countess Alexandra, and Prince Henrik and Princess Athena, born to the current Princess Marie, would have to lay down their most ornate titles of nobility.
As of January 1, 2023, they are only Count and Countess of Monpezat.
They would then be addressed as Excellency.
Margrethe II takes the titles of nobility from her grandchildren: "They should be able to shape their own lives"
The royal family writes: "The Queen's decision is in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made in various ways in recent years." With this step, Margrethe II wants to "create a framework in which the four grandchildren live their lives to a far greater extent, without being constrained by the particular considerations and obligations that formal institutional affiliation entails".
Joachim's children keep their place in the line of succession, Nikolai is in seventh place here.
The news gives the impression that the head of state is giving the grandchildren and granddaughter more freedom and freeing them from the shackles of a life that is primarily focused on royal roots.
But the Queen's family is apparently by no means grateful.
Rather, the feeling of being excluded should prevail in the affected branch of the family.
Has the say in the royal family: Queen Margrethe II celebrated her 50th anniversary of the throne this year.
© IMAGO / PPE
Prince Joachim railed against the removal of titles: "Why should my children be punished?"
"I was informed five days in advance," Prince Joachim fumed in the Copenhagen tabloid
BT
.
His children would be stripped of their identities.
"I am very, very sad when I see them sad and not understanding what is happening over their heads," added the 53-year-old, who openly asked, "Why should they be punished like this?"
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It is true that he was aware of his mother's plans of this kind.
But according to his understanding, they should only take effect when his children are 25 years old.
Nikolai turned 23 a month ago, baby Athena will only be celebrating her eleventh birthday in January.
There are still four princes and two princesses: the children of Prince Joachim (3rd from left) are to lose their titles of nobility at the turn of the year.
© IMAGO / PPE
Queen reaffirms her decision: 'I think it's good for her'
Joachim's ex-wife Countess Alexandra had previously
found clear words in
BT : "We are sad and shocked.
It comes like a bolt from the blue.”
The violent reactions also surprise insiders.
Jacob Heinel Jensen, the expert on the royal family at
BT
, explained that Countess Alexandra in particular had always been very reserved.
With him, “the impression arises that the royal family is no longer united.
At the moment there are two units.” It is possible that the withdrawal of the title is a “very targeted attack on Prince Joachim’s family”.
The queen, who has been in power for 50 years, says she wants to stick to her decision despite criticism from the family.
She had thought about it for a long time, the 82-year-old explained on
Dansmark Radio
.
She came to the conclusion: "I think it's good for her."
(mg)