Queen Margrethe and Prince Joachim

An embarrassing conflict

Prince Joachim has long had a strained relationship with his mother, Queen Margrethe, but I had not imagined that he would go for a verbal, public attack on his mother.

This is a commentary and represents the opinions of the author.

The decision of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe to take away from the grandchildren their prince and princess titles is, in view of the modernization that is just being achieved in the European royal houses, neither surprising nor sensational.

But I must admit that I am a little shocked that it has made the somewhat private conflict between the monarch and his son Prince Joachim now public.

It has long been known, at least in Denmark, that they have had their internal squabbles, but I am both disappointed and sad that not even adult, high-ranking members of a royal house have managed to figure out what is now appearing as an insoluble dispute within the family.

Whether it is Queen Margrethe, who claims she informed her son of her decision already at the beginning of May, or Prince Joachim, who claims he was told just five days before the announcement, who is telling the truth, this is deeply embarrassing and unfortunate for both. to.

Prince Joachim attacked his mother

Queen Margrethe should never have told about her decision before she had calmed down her own ranks, and Prince Joachim should not have attacked his mother in the media – no matter how cursed he is. This is how they both appear as losers in this conflict.

Prince Joachim says he reacts so strongly because he believes his child is deprived of his identity when they become counts and countesses instead of princes and princesses from New Year, but I myself struggle to understand the argument. They remain members of the royal family and retain their place in the line of succession.

Then I have more sense for Queen Margrethe’s assessment that this is the best for the grandchildren in view of their future careers.

Here in Norway, Princess Märtha has experienced just how difficult it can be to be both a princess and a businesswoman, and in Great Britain, Prince Harry has experienced the same.

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Discussion around prince and princess titles

And now Crown Princess Mary has also stated that she and Crown Prince Frederik will eventually also evaluate three of their own children’s titles. It sounds very reasonable. When that time comes, it will probably just be the eldest son, Prince Christian, who will be a working royal.

No matter how much Prince Joachim wants his children to be princes and princesses, he should not be surprised by Queen Margrethe’s decision.

In all the European royal houses, there is now a sensible process that looks carefully at how many members of the family are to be represented, both for practical and financial reasons.

Britain’s new King Charles has already stated that one of his first major tasks as monarch is to see just this, and his goal is to downsize the British royal house.

Read also: (+) The Turbulent Life of King Charles: Scandals, Divorce and Tragedy

Close relationship with Prince Henrik

In Sweden, King Carl Gustaf decided three years ago that the children of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine should no longer be members of the royal house, although they have at least for the time being retained their prince and princess titles.

And in Norway, Princess Märtha’s three children are not members of the royal house, even though they are fifth, sixth and seventh in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.

I am therefore afraid that the conflict between Queen Margrethe and Prince Joachim is far more serious than what has come to light. It has long been known that Joachim had a closer relationship with his late father Prince Henrik, precisely because they both disliked being “number one”.