Danish Queen stands by move to downgrade grandchildren

DENMARK’S queen has apologised for stripping some of her grandchildren of their royal titles but defended the move as “future-proofing”’ the monarchy.

Queen Margrethe II’S decision to remove the royal titles of four of her grandchildren was revealed on Monday and prompted a backlash from members of the family.

The 82-year-old sovereign said her decision had been coming for some time and was made to ensure the monarchy is “keeping with the times”. She added that she was “sorry” that she had “underestimated” her family’s reaction.

The decision will take effect next year.

“The titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued,” the initial statement, released last week, said. “Prince Joachim’s descendants will thus have to be addressed as excellencies in the future.”

Prince Joachim, 53, the queen’s younger son, expressed his upset at the decision. “It’s never fun to see your children being mistreated like that,” he told the newspaper Ekstra Bladet.

Prince Joachim’s four children – Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10 – will no longer be known as princes or princesses in their own right but will share the titles Count and Countess of Monpezat instead.

Joachim and his wife, Princess Marie, said they had not spoken to Queen Margrethe since the decision was revealed.

The couple also said their youngest child had been bullied at school in light of the announcement.

In response, the monarch said: “No one should be in doubt that my ... grandchildren are my great joy and pride.”