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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has said she is “sorry” for the fallout caused by her move to slim down the monarchy by removing royal titles from four of her grandchildren. Her elder son and heir apparent Prince Frederik’s children will keep their titles, however, it is her younger son Prince Joachim’s children who will no longer be known as prince and princess.
The change will be put into place from next year.
The Danish Queen said she wanted to keep the monarchy in “keeping with the times” and added it would “future-proof” the institution.
However, she admitted she had “underestimated” the strength of feeling and said “for that I am sorry”.
A statement released by the royal family at the time read: “The titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued.
“Prince Joachim’s descendants will thus have to be addressed as excellencies in the future.”
From the beginning of 2023, Joachim’s four children – Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10 – will be known by the titles Count and Countess of Monpezat instead of Prince and Princess, reported the BBC.
The statement added: “Her Majesty The Queen wishes to create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent.”
READ MORE: Prince Joachim and wife Princess Marie in tears over royal title axe
His wife Princess Marie even said her youngest child had been bullied at school after the news broke.
Prince Nikolai said his family had been “shocked” by the decision.
Queen Margrethe is a third cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and tested positive for COVID-19 after attending her funeral in London.
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