Queen Margrethe of Denmark strips grandchildren of royal titles
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Prince Joachim, the youngest son of Queen Margrethe II, claimed he was given just five days' notice about the change to his children's titles. But the Danish Palace hit back at the claim yesterday saying the decision had been "a long time coming".
In a statement released on Thursday, the royal household said there are a "lot of emotions" but the decision to strip the young royals of their titles was designed to "future-proof" the monarchy.
The Prince's children, Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, have had prince and princess removed from their titles and will no longer be able to use His or Her Royal Highness.
Under the new agreement, they will be known as either His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat from January.
Prince Joachim, who is sixth in line to the throne after his older brother and children, told Danish news outlet Ekstra Bladet: "We are all very sad. It's never fun to see your children being harmed. They are been put in a situation they do not understand."
The Queen's other four grandchildren, Princess Josephine, Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 15, and 11-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, will retain their royal titles.
The royal had his two eldest children with ex-wife Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, before remarrying his second wife, Marie, with who he shares his two youngest children, Henrik and Athena.
Alexandra, who was married to Prince Joachim for 10 years until 2005, said the news came out like a "bolt out of the blue".
The royal, who reportedly heard about the news through an aide rather than the family, said her two sons now feel "ostracised" from the Firm.
Local media reports that the decision has created an "icy" atmosphere within the Royal Family.
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"There has never been a public conflict between the Queen and Prince Joachim", Danish royal reporter Kenth Madsen told FEMAIL.
In the Palace statement, the monarch said she hoped the move would allow her grandchildren to "shape their own lives without being limited by the special considerations and duties" of the Royal Family.
The announcement also hinted the decision was taken to streamline the monarchy, a sentiment echoed by other monarchs including King Charles III.
On Thursday, Queen Margrethe defended the move, saying: "It is a consideration I have had for quite a long time and I think it will be good for them in their future. That is the reason."
Reports state her youngest son was informed of the decision over his children's titles in May but, on Thursday, he claimed he was only told five days previously.
He said: "I was given five days' notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen.
"Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January".
The Palace statement, released on Thursday, said: "As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming.
"We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected."
