Is there harmony again in the Danish royal family? At least that’s what new family photos that the royals have published on their website and social media suggest.
The two pictures were taken in the knight’s hall of the castle of Christian IX. in Amalienborg. The occasion was the 50th jubilee of Queen Margrethe II. (82). Traditionally, new portraits are made for royal anniversaries. The pictures show the regent surrounded by her family. Margrethe II poses in a photo with her two sons and their wives: Crown Prince Frederik (54) with Crown Princess Mary (50) and Prince Joachim (53) with his wife Marie (46). In the second picture Margrethe can only be seen with the crown prince couple Frederik and Mary of Denmark.
The new portraits follow disagreements in the Danish royal family. In September 2022, Margrethe II publicly announced that Joachim’s children would be deprived of their prince and princess titles. Nikolai (23), Felix (20), Henrik (13) and Athena (10) may only call themselves Count or Countess of Monpezat from 2023. The Queen wanted to enable her grandchildren to “shape their own lives”.
The decision caused internal irritation. The Queen regretted the stunned reaction of those affected. But she stuck to the decision to streamline the royal family and make it more contemporary.
In any case, Margrethe II had to spend Christmas without her children in Aarhus at Marselisborg Castle. Frederik was staying with his family in his Mary’s Australian homeland. Joachim and his family were also abroad.
