Stripped of Their Royal Titles, King Frederick Makes a Surprise Move for His Nephews
On his 57th birthday this week, King Frederik of Denmark bestowed the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog on his nephews Count Nikolai and Count Felix of Monpezat
The ancient order of chivalry is used today to recognize notable Danes for their service or contributions to their country
Nikolai and Felix had their princely titles stripped by their grandmother Queen Margrethe in 2022, just before she abdicated the throne
King Frederik of Denmark may have celebrated his 57th birthday this week, but he marked the occasion by bestowing gifts on two of his nephews.
On May 26, the Danish monarch presented Count Nikolai of Monpezat and Count Felix of Monpezat with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog.
The presentation took place at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen. The Order of the Dannebrog is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by King Christian V. While once limited to 50 noblemen, the order is used today to recognize notable Danes for their service or contributions to their country.
The official Instagram account of the Danish royal family documented the occasion, noting,"As a result of the appointment, the counts — like other Danish recipients of the Grand Cross — must have prepared a personal knight shield. When finished, it will be hung in the Knight Chapel at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød."
Nikolai also took to his personal Instagram page, saying he was "very honored to have received the Order of the Dannebrog yesterday from my uncle on his birthday."
Nikolai and Felix are the eldest sons of Prince Joachim, the younger brother of the King. They are Joachim's only children with his first wife, Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg. The couple divorced in 2005, and Prince Joachim married Princess Marie of Denmark in 2008. They also have two children, Count Henrik and Countess Athena of Monpezat.
Prince Joachim's children were originally also princes and princesses, also titled with "His/Her Highness." However, in September 2022, Queen Margrethe announced that she would be stripping Joachim's children of those titles, demoting them to "His/Her Excellency" and the count/countess moniker. However, the four children maintain their place in the Danish line of succession.
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In her unexpected announcement, the Queen shared that she wished to "create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent" without the responsibilities related to the Royal House of Denmark.
In March 2024, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie gave an interview to The Washington Post in Washington, D.C., where the prince works as a defense industry attaché at the Danish Embassy. They admitted that they had "complicated" feelings about how the Queen's announcement was handled.
"We weren't happy about the way it happened," Princess Marie said. "But it's a family thing. It's complicated."
In addition to their titles, Joachim and Marie also shared that they felt their children had lost their given names.
"It's their identity since they were born," Marie added. "So it's more than just what people see as a title."
Regardless, Prince Joachim said in the interview, "We've moved on." They have also supported Queen Margrethe, King Frederik and other family members at various events since.
King Frederik assumed the throne in January 2024, following Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate. The former monarch was recently hospitalized, and cited her health as a reason for stepping down when she announced her plans in 2023.
"In February this year, I underwent extensive back surgery. Everything went well, thanks to the competent health personnel, who took care of me," she said, in part. "Inevitably, the operation gave cause to thoughts about the future – whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation. I have decided that now is the right time."
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