Queen of Denmark strips grandchildren of titles

Drama’s afoot in the royal family, but for once it has nothing to do with Harry and Meghan.

The Queen of Denmark has stripped four of her grandchildren of their royal titles, and by the sound of it, their mum isn’t best pleased.

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe has eight grandkids, but only four have lost their titles. 

The palace said the Queen hopes the move will allow the children of Prince Joachim, Margrethe’s youngest son, to ‘live more normal lives’.

dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo

The palace’s statement read: “As of January 1 2023, the descendants of His Royal Highness Prince Joachim will only be able to use their titles of Count and Countess of Monpezat, their previous titles of Prince and Princess of Denmark ceasing to exist.”

It continued: “With her decision, Her Majesty the Queen wants to create a framework for the four grandchildren, to a much greater degree, to be able to shape their own existence without being limited by the special considerations and obligations that a formal affiliation with the Royal House as an institution implies.

“The queen’s decision is in line with similar changes that other royal houses have carried out in recent years in different ways.”

In recent years, royal palaces around the world have slimmed down monarchies.

Prince Joachim’s four kids - Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena - range from 10 to 23 in age and come from two separate marriages. 

Countess Alexandra, who is the mother of 53-year-old Joachim’s eldest two children, said she was ‘shocked’ by the decision. 

dpa picture alliance archive / Alamy Stock Photo

She told Danish tabloid BT: “This came from out of the blue. The children feel excluded. They can’t understand why their identity is being taken from them.”

UNILAD has approached the Danish royal family for comment.

Ever since the death of Queen Elizabeth II earlier this month, it’s been widely reported that her son and successor, King Charles III, plans to slim down the monarchy.

Speaking to The Mirror, a source said: “The King has long been an advocate of a streamlined or slimmed down monarchy and this project could certainly be said to fit with his vision. 

“He has already spoken of his wish to continue his mother’s legacy and this includes continuing to recognise what the people are experiencing day by day.”

Trimming the fat is a move favoured by the public, with a Daily Express poll finding that 65 percent people backed the idea and only 7 percent opposed it.

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]