There are some innovations in the Danish royals: As the royal family announces via Instagram, the titles and forms of address of many members are changing.

Queen Margrethe II (82) has therefore decided to withdraw the titles of Prince and Princess from the family branch of her youngest son Joachim zu Denmark (53) and his wife Marie zu Denmark (46) from January 1, 2023. The two are to be called Count and Countess of Monpezat in the future.

The children of the two also have to get used to new forms of address. Prince Nikolai (22), Prince Felix (20), Prince Henrik (13) and Princess Athena (10) may no longer be addressed as prince or princess from the beginning of next year, but only with "Excellence".

Apparently, this step had not been agreed with those affected. The royals are accordingly surprised by the innovations, such as Countess Alexandra von Frederiksborg (58), mother of the princes Nikolai and Felix, the Danish newspaper "BT." said: "We are sad and in shock," she quotes the newspaper as saying. The statement should also be coordinated with those affected. The newspaper also quotes: "The children feel left out. They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them."

In the royal family's official statement, on the other hand, it sounds as if Queen Margrethe wanted to do her grandchildren a favor by withdrawing their titles: "With her decision, Her Majesty the Queen wants to create the framework for the four grandchildren to live their lives on a much larger scale shape themselves without being constrained by the special considerations and obligations that formal institutional affiliation entails." It goes on to say that the change is "in line with similar adjustments made by other royal houses".

According to a spokeswoman for the royal family, Prince Joachim has known since May 5 that his children's titles would change. The "B.T." however, also reports that the royal family has been working since 2018 to systematically reduce Prince Joachim's influence.