Count Nikolai breaks his silence for the first time since his grandmother, Queen Margrethe, strips him and his siblings of their princely titles.
The traditional New Year’s party had a bitter aftertaste in the Danish royal house this year.
On New Year’s Eve, it became official:
Prince Joachim’s four sons have now lost their princely titles, as Queen Margrethe first announced at the end of September.
Former – and now counting – prince Nikolai (23) breaks his silence for the first time since the decision:
– It’s a strange feeling and an experience I’d rather do without, Nikolai tells Danish newspapers BT and Supplemental magazine through his mother’s press advisor.
Lost
From today, his name is no longer officially Prince Nikolai, but Count Nikolai Monpezat.
Nikolai used his now former title actively professionally. He was successful as a model parallel to his studies and worked, among others, for Burberry and Dior.
– But now it is as it is. I will be proud of the years I was allowed to be Prince of Denmark for the rest of my life, he says via his mother’s press adviser.
Queen Margrethe herself addressed the conflict in yesterday’s New Year’s speech to the Danish people.
– That the relationship with Princess Marie and Prince Joachim has become so difficult pains me, said the queen.
Lost
Amid bitter family strife, the royal family blundered in the middle of last week.
They have removed titles prematurely from their own websites.
– A regrettable technical error, added the royal house communications department Supplementary magazine.
The newspaper’s royal household commentator Kim Bach says it shows what Prince Joachim’s children mean to the royal household.
– No one would dare to make this mistake with the queen and not correct it immediately. Nor would anyone who would make this mistake with Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary or their children. This just shows how ostracized they really are, Bach tells the paper.
– Very sorry
The Queen’s decision it was justified in “that the four grandchildren should be able to shape their lives to a greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and obligations that a formal link with the Royal Household as an institution entails.”
Prince Joachim is the second son of the queen. He has four children:
Princes Nikolai (23) and Felix (20) with Countess Alexandra and Prince Henrik (13) and Princess Athena (10) with his current wife Princess Marie.
Countess Alexandra said the children felt left out. In an unusually forthright statement, Prince Joachim commented on the decision when it was announced:
– I have been given five days notice to let my children know that their identity has been taken from them. I am very, very sorry that they are upset and this is happening over their heads, she said Danish newspaper BT.
