Princess Marie of Denmark reveals she and Prince Joachim 'weren't happy' about the way their children were stripped of princely titles and says: 'It's their identity'

Princess Marie of Denmark says she and Prince Joachim 'weren't happy' about the way their children were stripped of princely titles, after a shock move from Queen Margrethe two years ago, a new interview has revealed.

Speaking to the Washington Post, the royal - who now works as defence industry attaché for his nation's embassy in the US capital - and his wife, opened up about the decision, which was previously described as coming 'out of the blue'.

'We weren't happy about the way it happened,' Marie, 48, admitted. 'But it's a family thing. It's complicated.'

The Prince's wife - who shares Count Henrik, 14, and Countess Athena, 12, with him - said their name is not just a trivial matter.

'It's more than just what people see as a title,' she explained.

Princess Marie of Denmark says she and Prince Joachim 'weren't happy' about the way their children were stripped of princely titles. Pictured: Prince Joachim, his wife Princess Marie, and his children Count Nikolai, Count Felix, Countess Athena and Count Henrik in 2023

But it appears there is no bad blood in the family, as a smiling Joachim, 54, was snapped hugging his brother, the newly-crowned King Frederik X - after their mother's abdication in January. 

'We've moved on,' the Prince added.

While the dust seems to have now settled, after the family were stripped of their titles in September 2022, Joachim had claimed that his mother's decision had initially 'harmed' his children.

Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted that 'communication was missing' within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement. 

Joachim told local news outlet B.T.: 'There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.'

He added that he had only been given five days' notice before the news was made public.

Following the Queen's announcement, Joachim spoke to Danish publication Ekstra Bladet outside the Danish Embassy in Paris, where he lived with his French-born wife Princess Marie and his two youngest children, and said his four children had been 'hurt' by their grandmother's decision.

'I was given five days' notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen. Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January,' he clarified at the time.

Speaking to the Washington Post , the royal - who now works as defence industry attaché for his nation's embassy in the US capital - and his wife, opened up about the decision, which was previously described as coming 'out of the blue'. Queen Margrethe in January

But it appears there is no bad blood in the family, as a smiling Joachim, 54, was snapped hugging his brother, the newly-crowned King Frederik X - after their mother's abdication in January

Speaking to B.T., Joachim and his second wife Marie also admitted their relationship with Prince Frederik and Princess Mary is 'complicated'.

Meanwhile, Prince Joachim's ex-wife Alexandra said that her sons, Nikolai, 24, and Felix, 21, had been left feeling 'ostracised' from the institution and the decision had come like a 'bolt out of the blue'. 

The Royal Household released a further statement that the 'decision has been a long time coming'.

'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected,' the statement added.

None of Joachim's children - or his wife Princess Marie - joined him at Frederik's ascension.

Instead, Marie and their two children remained in Washington DC, where the family now live.

None of Joachim's children - or his wife Princess Marie - joined him at Frederik's ascension. The brothers pictured last year

A palace spokesperson told Hello!: 'Prince Joachim will be there, but the children go to school, there is no special reason.'

However, there appears to be no hard feelings from his eldest son Nikolai, who posted sweet throwback pictures with both his uncle and grandmother to his Instagram account.

The student, who is currently studying in Sydney and on holiday in Bali, added that he was eating Danish food, perhaps in a a sign he was missing home. 

After the parliamentary reception, most of the royals headed to a reception in the parliament, however Joachim left to fly back to the US.

Once inside parliament, the family listened to speeches from Danish politicians, including the Prime Minister, before the Danish National Girls' choir sang Hans Christian Andersen's 'Denmark, my Fatherland,' causing Mary to cry. 

Braving the -2C (28F) temperatures and rainy weather, Mary and Frederik greeted their family outside the building before watching speeches by politicians. 

After entering parliament, Mary - clutching a bouquet - headed into the chamber with husband Frederik and son Christian sitting either side of her.

Joachim, Benedikte and Margarethe sat behind as they listened to a speech by Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister.