The Danish royal house just got a lot smaller.
All four grandchildren — Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10 — maintain their places in the order of succession. They are currently seventh through tenth in the line to the throne.
Queen Margrethe with Prince Joachim and his family.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Nikolai and Felix are the sons of Prince Joachim and his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. Prince Joachim got remarried to Princess Marie in 2008, and they later welcomed Henrik and Athena.
The decision does not pertain to the four children of Crown Prince Frederik, who is heir to the throne, with his wife,Crown Princess Mary. Unlike their cousins,Prince Christian, 16,Princess Isabella, 15, and 11-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine will both continue to be part of the royal house.
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Prince Vincent, Crown Prince Frederik, Princess Isabella, Queen Margrethe, Prince Christian, Princess Josephine and Crown Princess Mary.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
The Danish palace also noted that “the Queen’s decision is in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made in various ways in recent years.” Similarly, Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustafannouncedin October 2019 that the children ofPrincess Madeleineand Chris O’Neill as well asPrince Carl PhilipandPrincess Sofiawould no longer be official members of the royal house. They retained their titles of prince or princess, but the titles became personal and any future spouses or children will not have a right to them.
Prince Felix, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, Princess Athena, Prince Henrik and Prince Nikolai.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty
Princess Madeleine responded to the news on Instagram, writing: “Earlier today, the court announced that Leonore, Nicolas and Adrienne will no longer belong to the royal house. This change has been planned for a long time. Chris and I think it’s good that our children are now getting a greater opportunity to shape their own lives as private individuals in the future.”
Prince Carl Philip also shared his thoughts on Instagram,writing: “Today, the King announced the decision that our children no longer hold the Royal Highness position. We see this as positive as Alexander and Gabriel will have freer choices in life.” (Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia later welcomed a third son,Prince Julian.)
Behind the scenes,there have been arguments over titlesfor Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Phil Noble-WPA Pool/Getty
Having reigned for more than 50 years since her father King Frederick IX died in 1972, she’s now also the longest-serving current head of state.
Queen Margrethe became the first woman allowed to inherit the throne in her country after the 1953 Act of Succession “gave women the right of succession to the Danish Throne… however only secondarily,” according toDenmark’s official website. The Act of Succession was amended again in 2009, “when full equality in the succession to the throne was introduced,” per Denmark’s website. “That means the regent’s oldest child — regardless of gender — inherits the throne (so-called primogeniture).”
source: people.com
