Denmark’s Prince Nikolai is ‘shocked’ by his grandmother Queen Margrethe II’s decision to strip four of his grandchildren of their royal titles.
Nikolai, along with his brothers Félix, 20, Henrik, 13, and his younger sister Athéna, 10, will be called either “His Excellency the Count of Monpezat” or “Her Excellency the Countess of Monpezat” from January 1, 2023 .
The 23-year-old royal, who is the eldest son of Prince Joachim – sixth in line to the Danish throne, was told the bombshell news “just over a week ago”.
“We are, as my parents also said, in shock about this decision and how quickly it actually happened,” Nikolai told Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet. “I’m very confused as to why it has to happen like this.”
“Like I said, we were shocked. But it is clear that it hits even harder now that it has been published.
Queen Margrethe II, 82, said removing her grandchildren’s prince and princess titles would allow them to ‘shape their own lives’ instead of being ‘restricted’.
“With her decision, Her Majesty The Queen wishes to create the framework for the four grandchildren to shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and duties than a formal affiliation to the Royal House of Denmark. as an institution entails,” read Queen Margrethe’s statement.
Nikolai, who boasts a successful modeling career after modeling for top fashion brands such as Dior and Vogue, said the decision left him “shocked and confused” as he and his siblings will now be known as counts and countesses.
“It’s never fun to see your kids abused like this,” Joachim told the outlet this week.
Meanwhile, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg – the mother of Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix also said she was “confused” by the news.
“We are saddened and in shock,” Prince Joachim’s ex-wife said in a statement from his press adviser Helle von Wildenrath Løvgreen, according to Danish magazine Se og Hør.
“It comes like a thunderclap. Children feel left out. They cannot understand why their identity is taken away from them.
No changes have been made to the titles of Prince Frederik, the heir to the throne, as well as his wife, Princess Mary, and their children – Prince Christian, 16, Princess Isabella, 15 and the twins 11-year-old Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
Queen Margrethe II, 82, who is now the longest-reigning monarch after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, defended her decision, telling reporters: ‘It’s a consideration I’ve had for quite a long time. and I think it will be good for them in their life. coming. That’s the reason,” according to Hello! Magazine.
Queen Margrethe’s decision echoes the drama that has unfolded recently within the British royal family, which has suffered a series of back-to-back scandals over the years.
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