Danish Royals 'Not Happy' With Title Purge: Queen Margrethe's Son Criticizes Ex-Ruler for Taking Children's 'Identity' From Them
Prince Joachim and Princess Marie openly criticized Queen Margrethe II for taking their children's titles and 'identity' from them.
Denmark's Prince Joachim and his wife, Princess Marie, have spoken out against Queen Margrethe II's decision to remove their children's titles in 2023. The former head of state, who abdicated in favor of her heir, the now-King Frederik X in January, stripped her younger son's kids' royal styles as prince/princess in favor of "His or Her Excellency Count/Countess of Monpezat."
"We've moved on," His Royal Highness told an outlet.
Princess Marie added: "We weren’t happy about the way it happened. But it’s a family thing. It’s complicated. It’s also their name. It’s their identity since they were born. So it’s more than just what people see as a title."
The prince, who is fifth in line to the Danish throne, and his wife, left their home in France for Washington, D.C., last year due to Joachim's job at the Danish Embassy.
"We've lived here for seven months now, and very few people know who we are, Danes apart," HRH added.
Denmark has "overwhelmingly taken" to its new King and Queen Mary since the former acceded to the throne on January 14. But not every royal throughout Europe was overjoyed with Margrethe II's decision to renounce her throne, which she formerly stated was "a job for life."
Norway's King Harald V turned on the shade when asked about the only female reigning monarch in the world, abdicating her throne after 52 years on the job.
"I stick by what I’ve always said, that I swore an oath to the Storting (parliament), and it is for life," the monarch shared when asked if he had plans to give up his throne.
Like Great Britain's late Queen Elizabeth II, who died as her nation's monarch, Harald V is a firm believer in the ancient code of monarchy, which is to reign and serve your subjects as head of state for every second of your life. Harald V has frequently mentioned his intention to serve in his role indefinitely, which was also a contradictory frequent talking point of Denmark's now-former monarch through the years.
"It's always been: you stay as long as you live. That's what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it, too," the Queen stated in a 2016 interview. Her abdication was the first for a Danish sovereign in nearly 900 years and left the world with no reigning female monarch over any of its monarchies.
Harald V came to the Norwegian throne in January 1991 upon the death of his father, King Olav V. He is married to Queen Sonja, and his heir is Crown Prince Haakon.
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Daily Express reported on Joachim and Marie's comments.
