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Kate Middleton reunites with Queen Margrethe of Denmark
The mother of two of the princes affected by Queen Margrethe’s decision to strip four of her grandchildren of their titles spoke out hours after the move had been announced. Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, said to have been left “saddened and in shock” by the Danish Queen’s statement.
Alexandra, who had Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix during her now-ended marriage with Margrethe’s younger son Prince Joachim, said, as reported by Danish magazine Se og Hør: “We are all confused by the decision. We are saddened and in shock.
“This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracized.
“They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them.”
Prince Nikolai, 23, is currently seventh-in-line to the throne and has been successfully working as a fashion model since 2018.
Alexandra with her children Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix (Image: GETTY)
Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, was Prince Joachim’s first wife (Image: GETTY)
His younger brother, Prince Felix, turned 20 in July and is currently eighth in the line of succession to the Danish throne.
Last year, the Danish court confirmed he had passed his entry exam to the Royal Danish Military Academy.
Three years after the end of his marriage with Alexandra, Prince Joachim tied the knot with Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat.
Together, the couple welcomed Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10.
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Queen Margrethe II is the only reigning queen in Europe (Image: GETTY)
While Alexandra voiced her disappointed following Queen Margrethe’s announcement, Prince Joachim hasn’t released an official statement.
However, the Danish Royal Court said the royal has been “involved and oriented throughout the process”.
The Countess’ reaction comes after the Danish Royal Court announced Europe’s only reigning Queen is effectively moving to streamline her Royal Family.
As a consequence, Prince Joachim’s children will be known as His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat rather than HRH Prince or Princess.
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Queen Margrethe II attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II (Image: GETTY)
Prince Joachim with his second wife Princess Marie and his sons Nikolai and Felix (Image: GETTY)
The move, which won’t affect the line of succession, will be enforced from January 1.
The four children of the Queen’s firstborn and heir to the throne, Crown Prince Frederik, won’t be affected by this move.
The groundbreaking statement read: “In April 2008, Her Majesty the Queen conferred the titles of Count, Countess and Comtesse of Monpezat on her sons, their spouses and their descendants.
“In May 2016, it was also announced that His Royal Highness Prince Christian, as the only one of the Queen’s grandchildren, is expected to receive an annuity from the state as an adult.
Monarchies in Europe (Image: EXPRESS)
“As a natural extension of this, Her Majesty has decided that with effect from 1 January 2023, the descendants of His Royal Highness Prince Joachim can only use their titles as Count and Countess of Monpezat, as their previous titles as Prince and Princess of Denmark will lapse.
“Prince Joachim’s descendants will henceforth have to be addressed as Excellencies.”
The decision aims at creating “the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves”, the statement added.
It also pointed out the Queen’s decision was “in line with similar adaptations” made by other royal houses, including the Swedish one.
Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, and Prince Joachim have two children together (Image: GETTY)
In October 2019, King Carl XVI Gustaf announced only the children of her firstborn would remain official members of the royal house.
While his other grandchildren would retain their titles of prince and princess, they would become personal, with their future spouses and children no longer having a right to them.
King Charles III has been widely rumoured for years to be planning a streamlined Royal Family in Britain, with the aim to make it more modern and cost-efficient.
However, no official statement on this issue has ever been released by Clarence House or Buckingham Palace.
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