Princess Marie of Denmark reveals she and Prince Joachim ‘weren’t happy’ about the way their children were stripped of princely titles and says: ‘It’s their identity’

Princess Marie of Denmark says she and Prince Joachim were ‘not happy’ with the way their children were stripped of princely titles after a shock move by Queen Margrethe two years ago, a new interview has revealed.

Speaking to the WashingtonPostThe royal – who now works as a defense industry attaché for his country’s embassy in the US capital – and his wife spoke about the decision, which was previously described as “coming out of the blue”.

“We weren’t happy with the way it happened,” Marie, 48, admitted. ‘But it’s a family affair. It’s complicated.’

The prince’s wife – who shares Count Henrik, 14, and Countess Athena, 12, with him – said their names are not just a trivial matter.

“It’s more than just what people see as a title,” she explained.

But it appears there is no bad blood in the family as a smiling Joachim, 54, was seen hugging his brother, newly crowned King Frederick X – following their mother’s abdication in January.

“We have moved on,” the prince added.

Although the dust now appears to have settled, after the family was stripped of their titles in September 2022, Joachim had claimed that his mother’s decision had initially ‘harmed’ his children.

Months later, the sixth in line to the throne admitted there was a ‘lack of communication’ within the royal family in the run-up to the shock announcement.

Joachim told the local news channel BT: ‘There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.’

He added that he was given only five days’ notice before the news was made public.

After the queen’s announcement, Joachim spoke to the Danish publication Ekstra Bladet outside the Danish embassy in Paris, where he lived with his French-born wife Princess Marie and his two youngest children, saying his four children were “hurt” by their grandmother’s decision.

‘I was given five days’ notice to tell them. In May I was presented with a plan that broadly stated that this would happen when the children each turned 25. Now I only had five days to tell them. Athena will turn eleven years old in January,” he clarified at the time.

Speaking to the Washington Post, the royal – who now works as a defense industry attaché for his country’s embassy in the US capital – and his wife spoke about the decision, which was previously described as ‘coming out of the blue’. Queen Margaretha in January

But it appears there is no bad blood in the family as a smiling Joachim, 54, was snapped hugging his brother, the newly crowned King Frederick X – following their mother’s abdication in January

Speak with BTJoachim and his second wife Marie also admitted that their relationship with Prince Frederik and Princess Mary is ‘complicated’.

Meanwhile, Prince Joachim’s ex-wife Alexandra said her sons, Nikolai, 24, and Felix, 21, felt they had been “left out” of the institution and the decision had come as a bolt from the blue.

The Royal House said in a further statement that the ‘decision has been a long time coming’.

“We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen’s wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected,” the statement said.

None of Joachim’s children – or his wife Princess Marie – accompanied him at Frederick’s ascension.

Instead, Marie and their two children remained in Washington DC, where the family now lives.

None of Joachim’s children – or his wife Princess Marie – accompanied him at Frederick’s ascension. The brothers who were in the photo last year

A palace spokesman said this Hello!: ‘Prince Joachim will be there, but the children will go to school, there is no special reason.’

However, there don’t seem to be any hard feelings from his eldest son Nikolai, who posted sweet throwback photos with both his uncle and grandmother on his Instagram account.

The student, who is currently studying in Sydney and on holiday in Bali, added that he ate Danish food, perhaps as a sign that he missed home.

After the parliamentary reception, most of the royal family went to a reception in parliament, but Joachim left to fly back to the US.

Once inside parliament, the family listened to speeches from Danish politicians, including the Prime Minister, before the Danish National Girls’ Choir sang Hans Christian Andersen’s ‘Denmark, My Homeland’, causing Mary to cry.

Mary and Frederik braved -2ºC temperatures and rainy weather to greet their family outside the building before watching speeches from politicians.

After entering parliament, Mary – bouquet in hand – entered the chamber, while husband Frederick and son Christian sat on either side of her.

Joachim, Benedkeek and Margarethe sat in the back as they listened to a speech by Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister.