>
Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark has spoken publicly for the first time since his mother, Queen Margrethe II, announced she would take the prince and princess titles from Prince Joachim’s four children.
Heir to the throne, Frederik, 54, has remained silent since the announcement a month ago, but broke his silence today to say: ‘It is sad to see how affected he has been by the decision.’
Speaking with Danish publication BT the father of four, denied his brother’s claims that they weren’t speaking and insisted they were in “constant” communication.
On the other hand, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie have previously claimed that they did not speak to the Crown Prince or his wife Princess Mary during the crisis and that the relationship with them has been “complicated”.
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (pictured left) has broken his silence over his mother’s decision to strip Prince Joachim’s children (pictured right) of their royal titles
On Thursday, Crown Prince Frederick appeared at a public event for the first time since his mother announced her decision to remove the royal titles from Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10.
According to the Danish news channel, the father of four repeated several times that he supported the Queen and had “a lot of contact” with his younger brother, Prince Joachim.
He said, ‘I’m in constant contact with my brother, I’ve always been funny enough, so there’s nothing new about whether I’ve been in touch with him. I am in constant contact with him.’
Still, he couldn’t resist pointing out the “discrepancy” in the royal family regarding the titles of Prince Joachim’s children, whom he called a “family affair.”
Frederik said: ‘It is sad to see how affected he is by the decision.’
But he continued to support the queen’s wishes, despite understanding his brother’s position.
The crown prince explained to the publication that he is invested in the Danish monarchy which “remains lean over time”, thus supporting his mother’s decision.
Queen Margrethe II announced on September 28 that Prince Joachim’s four children would lose their royal titles. LR: Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Queen Margrethe, Princess Marie, Princess Athena, Prince Joachim and Prince Henrik
Prince Joachim (pictured) speaking after his mother’s announcement, said his children were sad and that he was informed of the decision just five days in advance
Frederik explained that she only made the decision because she wanted to.
He said: “She felt that now was the time to make a decision that I also support and that I see as the right decision.”
The Crown Prince did think about the effect this had on his younger brother and insisted that they had been in touch, but insisted that this was a family affair that should be kept private.
Except for the opening of Parliament the week after Queen Margrethe’s announcement on September 28, Prince Frederick has had no events on the royal calendar in the past month.
Thursday’s words came as he visited a sixth-grade class at Vibenhus Skole in Copenhagen, which is participating in the Foundation for Entrepreneurship’s Project Edison inventing competition.
However, Frederik has sailed privately in France for part of the past month, but according to the Danish publication, without stopping at Prince Joachim in Paris.
Queen Margrethe’s decision has caused many conflicts within the Danish family and has been echoed in the world press.
Prince Joachim and his family deeply and publicly disagree with her decision to strip his children’s titles.
Queen Margrethe initially explained that the decision was made for the sake of her children, but later said it was also about securing the future of the royal family.
Both he, Princess Marie and Countess Alexandra told the press that their children were sad.
Joachim was quick to state that he had been informed of his mother’s decision for five days.
Earlier this month, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, the mother of Joachim’s youngest children, spoke to BT about the implications of this decision for their children.
Marie told the news channel that her daughter Athena is being bullied at school after the decision was made public.
“They come and say (to Athena): Is it you who is no longer a princess?” she said, adding that her children have been put in the public spotlight and that is why she feels the need to defend them.
The Danish Royal Family Tree. Prince Joachim’s children, Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all lose their titles on January 1, 2023
Joachim reacted furiously to his mother Margrethe’s decision, saying it “punished” his children and claiming he was told the news only five days before it was made public – despite the Royal House insisting the move was “long overdue.” kept waiting’ ‘.
Queen Margrethe initially explained that the decision was made for the sake of the grandchildren.
But the queen later described in a press release that it was also about securing the future of the royal family.
She wrote: ‘Using a royal title entails a number of obligations and duties, which will be borne by fewer members of the royal family in the future.’
However, she also stated that it made a big impression on her that her family was upset, but still stood by her decision.
Crown Princess Mary also championed the change when, two days after the announcement, she answered questions from the press regarding a youth conference in Øksnehallen.
Where she acknowledges the pain the Queen’s grandchildren may have felt, but insisted it was the right thing to do.
Here she said that “change can be immeasurably difficult and can hurt,” but added that it was not the same as the decision that was not right.
On the same day, the Queen’s sister, Princess Benedikte, also supported the decision, calling it wise.