Prince Christian of Denmark; Count Nikolai of Monpezat.Photo:Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images; Don Arnold/WireImage
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images; Don Arnold/WireImage
Prince Christianof Denmark’s banner birthday brought his royal family together — but one member was missing.
The second in line to the Danish throne turned 18 on Sunday, and the Danish Royal House celebrated in a major way with aglittering galaat Christiansborg Palace. Prince Christian’s birthday bash brought his extended family together, including his unclePrince Joachim, auntPrincess Marieand cousins Count Felix, 21, Count Henrik, 13, and Countess Athena, 11, though Joachim’s eldest sonCount Nikolaiwas not present. The logistical hiccup was likely because Nikolai is currentlystudying abroadat the University of Technology in Sydney, which is roughly a 21-hour flight from Copenhagen.
Though he wasn’t there for Prince Christian’s big day, the student and model wished his cousin well with a thoughtful tribute on social media on his birthday. Count Nikolai has kept followers updated with his stay in the Land Down Under, where his auntCrown Princess Maryis coincidentally from.
“Funny how time flies. 13 years ago,” Nikolai, 24, wrote with a laughing emoji on his Instagram Story, posting a throwback childhood photo of him and Christian locking arms on a palace balcony.
Countess Athena, Count Henrik, Count Felix, Princess Marie and Prince Joachim enter Prince Christian’s 18th birthday gala at Christiansborg Palace on October 15.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
The four siblings retained their places in the line of succession to the Danish throne and are now known instead as His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat. These titles passed from their late grandfatherPrince Henrik, who died in 2018.
A father of four, Prince Joachim, 54, shares his two eldest sons, Nikolai and Felix, with his first wife Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. They divorced in 2005 after a decade of marriage, and Joachim remarried in 2008. He and Princess Marie, 47, went on to welcome two children — Count Henrik and Countess Athena.
In March, the Danish Royal House announced that Prince Joachim and Princess Mariewould be relocatingto Washington, D.C., at the end of the summer for the prince to take on a new job at the Danish Embassy. Henrik and Athena joined their parents for the transatlantic move, while Nikolai and Felix stayed back in Denmark. Then, a spokesperson for Nikolai and Felix’s mother Alexandra toldB.T.in the spring that her eldest son would study abroad in Australia for the fall semester.
Whether any hard feelings remained around the decision to remove their royal titles, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie and his four kids came together for Queen Margrethe’s 83rd birthday celebrations in April. In a breakout moment, therecord-reigning Queenappeared on the balcony of Amalienborg Castle with both of her sons, their wives and all eight of her grandchildren.
The title shakeup at the turn of the year did not affect the four children of her eldest sonCrown Prince Frederikand his wife, Crown Princess Mary, and Prince Christian,Princess Isabella, 16, and 12-year-old twinsPrince VincentandPrincess Josephineretain their royal styling.
Queen Margrethe on the balcony of Amalienborg Palace with her family on April 16.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
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The glamorous gala came with atotally royalwhite-tie dress code, with uniforms, honors and tiaras welcome. While Queen Margrethe, Crown Princess Mary and Princess Mary sported sparkly headpieces, Isabella, Josephine and Athena all wore their hair simply styled, as they’re still a few years away from reaching into the royal vault for a tiara.
source: people.com
