Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Changes in titles for Queen Margrethe II's grandchildren

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The four children of HRH Prince Joachim of Denmark will cease to be styled as HH Prince or Princess as of January 1, 2023.  Their new titles will be Count or Countess of Monpezat.  

 The four children are : 

HH Prince Nikolai William Alexander Frederik (August 28, 1999)
HH Prince Felix Henrik Valdemar Christian (July 22, 2002)

HH Prince Henrik Carl Joachim Alain (May 4, 2009)
HH Princess Athena Marguerite Francoise Marie (January 24, 2012)

Princes Nikolai and Felix are the children of Prince Joachim's first marriage to Hong Kong-born Alexandra Manley.

They were divorced in April 2005.  Three years later, in May 2008,  Prince Joachim married Marie Cavallier, a French national.   Henrik and Athena are from Joachim's second marriage.

Joachim's children were always expected to earn their own living as none of them were to be working royals.   This may become the standard in the future for the younger sons of the Danish sovereign.  

The new style will be:

His Excellency Count Nikolai of Monpezat
His Excellency Count Felix of Monpezat
His Excellency Count  Henrik of Monpezat
Her Excellency Countess Athena of Monpezat


Prince Joachim's first wife, Alexandra, who was given the title Countess of Frederiksborg after they were divorced, issued a statement through her secretary, Helle von Wildenrath Løvgreen:

"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. "   Helle von Wildenrath Løvgreen told the Danish newspaper, B.T. that Countess Alexandra is "too affected "  by the announcement
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Løvgreen also spoke to Danish magazine, Billed-Bladet: "It is my clear impression that all three parents are very shocked."   his statement contradicts the Royal Household's head of communication, Lena Balleby, who said Prince Joachim has known since May 5 that his children's titles would change.   

"The decision has taken various forms along the way, but Prince Joachim has been involved and briefed throughout the process. But of course, I understand that this is difficult,' she told  B.T.

Queen Margrethe II spoke tonight about her decision. She said she had been "considering it for a long time," and she did it for the sake of the grandchildren,   

"These are considerations that I have been with for quite a long time, and I think it is good for them in their future," the queen said.

She also has not heard anything about her grandchildren's reactions to the announcement.

The Danish queen was visiting the National Museum when she was asked by reporters about her decision.








 

15 comments:

Christina O. said...

Marlene, In Lene Balleby's Press Release, end of the 2nd paragraph, what "other royal houses" are being referred to ("...in line with similar adjustments...").

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

In Norway, Crown Prince Haakon's daughter. Ingrid, who is second in line to the throne, is HRH, but younger brother Sverre is just Prince (doubtful his kids will be titled).
Since 2015 in Belgium, a royal decree from Philippe limits the HRH and title of Prince and Princess to the children of the sovereign and heir's children.
Since 1987 in Spain, children of the sovereign are infants of Spain, heir is Prince or Princess of Asturias, heir's kids are also Infants of Spain, but children of younger siblings Grandees

In Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf has removed the HRH from the children of his son Carl Philip and daughter Madeleine as they will never have a role, Still titled as prince or princess but are no longer members of the royal house

In the Netherlands, the children of KIng Willem-Alexander's brothers are Counts and Countesses.

Norway and the Netherlands have succession laws based on relationship to the sovereign. When WA succeeded, his first cousins who married with permission (2 of the 4 sons of Margriet) lost their rights. Margriet should have lost hers, but Parliament passed a law that allowed her to retain her right for life. she is Beatrix's sister (their other two sisters lost rights when marrying without Parliamentary consent)

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Luxembourg uses Prince or Princess of Nassau for male lines other than the Hereditary Grand Duke's kids

Bill said...

I think it is a shame to take away titles. I think it would be better to change future tiles but leave current titles intact. Countess Alexandra's press release seems a little over the top.

Matthew Plooster said...

I think it's particularly interesting how the statement from the royal household noted "other royal houses." Especially after the 2020 special report from Waringo Jeannot re Luxembourg with recommendations to the PM using comparisons to other European royal houses, I do wonder if we're going to see a more public "keeping up with the Joneses" among the royal houses of Europe when it comes to how these monarchies evolve, who is and isn't involved, how they're funded, etc.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

It is already established in other European royal houses, focusing on the children of the sovereign and children of the heir

- said...

That's interesting how strong are the Prince's and Countess' statements and how contradicting they are to the royal house's and the Queen's. Not diplomatic at all, given that the monarch is the fount of honour and can give and take back titles as she or he pleases and the way she or he thinks is appropriate. The parents seem to be clearly taken by surprise and not a pleasant one.

The move was not agreed and even consulted with them prior to the announcement, according to the Prince himself who said in a quick interview held today in Paris that he sees it as a punishment for his children. He also said that indeed, he was presented with the plans in May, but he thought they were to take place only after his children's 25th birthdays, not now. Source: https://ekstrabladet.dk/underholdning/kongelige/danskekongelige/nu-reagerer-prins-joachim-mine-boern-er-gjort-fortraed/9447865 and https://www.billedbladet.dk/kongelige/danmark/prins-joachim-forstaar-ikke-dronningen-hvorfor-skal-boernene-straffes-paa-den

Well, I'm starting to think the Joachims' move to Paris was not a career development for the Prince but a self-imposed exile or even banishment. But for what? His term as the Attaché ends next year but now I don't see their return to Denmark as possible.

Apart from that, I think it is the right move to limit the royal titles to only those actually working for the institution and with real prospects of inheriting the throne. Everyone else of the monarch's relatives, despite being of royal origin, will have to live on their own and make their own living as ordinary citizens. They won't receive a penny as it was already decided back in 2016 that the heir's heir, Prince Christian, is the only of the Queen's grandchildren who will ever receive an annuity from the state when he establishes his own household. Therefore, it was assumed that not-being princes and Highnesses will ease the things in life for Joachim's children. And I think it will, eventually...

Also, I wonder how things will be settled (if ever) with the Greek branch of the Royal Family, who I think still legally use the titles of Danish princes. I always thought it was legally-based in Denmark and not just used in pretence or by convention. Is it, Marlene?

BTW, let's wait for the changes expected from Charles III. Will there be tears and wrath statements like now?

- said...

Also, I want to add that the Joachims' statements are completely different than those of Madeleine's and Carl Philip's when their children were removed from the Royal House.

skupachk said...

Personally I think taking away the HRH would have been enough given that all the children are old enough to understand what is going on. They could have kept the Prince/Princess as a personal honour and not pass it on to future generations. She then could have made a different rule for future children. Seems a shame to have apparently done this without sitting the children down and explaining it to them - that should have been done as a minimum. I'm sure it makes no real change to them but seems to show a lack of consideration. And that goes back the other way with the statements of Joachim and Alexandra - totally not necessary, smacks of mud slinging using the media as a weapon.

Andrew said...

I don't think Prince Joachim living in France is banishment. He's half France and his wife is French. I was under the impression he's a diplomat. Travelling outside one's home country is part of the job.

Andy said...

Hi Marlene,

Just wondering why the children and grandchildren of Queen Anne-Marie of Greece are still allowed to use the titles Prince and Princess of Denmark? Would this not have been a good time to remove those as well, since they are even further removed from the Danish crown than Joachim and his children?

Andy said...

Hi Marlene,

Just wondering why the children and grandchildren of Queen Anne-Marie of Greece are still allowed to use the titles Prince and Princess of Denmark? Would this not have been a good time to remove those as well, since they are even further removed from the Danish crown than Joachim and his children?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

The Greek royals are not Prince or Princess of Denmark but to Denmark (does not translate well into English). They do not have succession rights,w which is vested in the descendants of Christian X of Denmark. The Greek royals descend from Christian IX of Denmark. Anne Marie lost her rights when she married.

- said...

Marlene, its the opposite - they are "of" Denmark (af, also, von in German), in contrary to those who are dynasts eligible to succeed to the throne, who are princes "to" Denmark (til, zu in German).

Bridget =) said...

Said said, "Marlene, its the opposite - they are "of" Denmark (af, also, von in German), in contrary to those who are dynasts eligible to succeed to the throne, who are princes "to" Denmark (til, zu in German)." I am just wondering what the difference means?