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Prince Joachim of Denmark joined Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary at the New Year’s levee and banquet on Sunday at Christian VII’s Palace. The dad of four’s appearance on New Year’s Day followed the changes to his children’s titles. Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena’s Prince and Princess titles were discontinued as of Jan. 1, 2023.
Joachim’s sons and daughter can now only use their titles as Counts and Countess of Monpezat, and will now be “addressed as excellencies.” The royal family’s website has since been updated to reflect the changes. Queen Margrethe’s decision to change the titles of Joachim’s kids prompted reactions last year from the Prince and his wife Princess Marie , whom he shares Athena and Henrik with, as well as from the Prince’s ex-wife Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, with whom he shares sons Nikolai and Felix.
In the Queen’s New Year Address on Dec. 31, the Danish monarch spoke about “difficulties and misunderstandings” arising in her family. “I always feel great love for my entire family. Difficulties and misunderstandings may arise in any family, also in mine. The whole country has witnessed that. That the relationship with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie has run into difficulties makes me sad,” the Queen said. “We have now had a quieter period and time for reflection, and I am sure that our family can embark on the new year together with confidence, understanding, and new courage.”
Joachim’s wife Marie was absent from the New Year’s levee and banquet on Jan. 1. According to Billed Bladet , the Princess stayed home in Paris with her son Henrik, who was sick.
Ahead of the New Year, the Danish royal family celebrated Christmas apart from each other. Joachim, Marie and their kids went on “a long-planned trip abroad over Christmas,” while the Crown Prince family traveled to Australia to spend the holiday with Mary’s family.
It’s been reported that Joachim, who currently resides in Paris, has landed a new job in the “defense industry” in Washington, D.C. and will be moving to the United States this year. Per B.T., (translated to English), “Prince Joachim will start after the 2023 summer holidays, and this probably means that the family will move to the US federal capital during the summer.”