Three years after having his royal title stripped, the former Prince Nikolai of Denmark has broken his silence in a new upcoming documentary. Now known as Count of Monpezat, he addressed the emotional impact of the decision made by his grandmother, then-Queen Margrethe II, in 2022.
Title Removal and Family Rift
In 2022, Queen Margrethe II announced that from 2023, several of her grandchildren would no longer hold princely titles. The change affected the four children of her youngest son, Prince Joachim: Nikolai, Felix, Henrik, and Athena. Instead of being styled as princes and princesses, they adopted the titles Count and Countess of Monpezat. The Queen stated the move was intended to give them more freedom and to slim down the monarchy, but it caused a significant family rift.
Nikolai's Documentary Statement
In the four-episode documentary set to air on Danish TV, Count Nikolai spoke candidly about the experience. He said: "I will always be a representative of Denmark, the Danish people, and Danish values, no matter where I am or in what context. Both my life and the role I previously held have changed. A decision was made on my behalf, and that is never pleasant, of course." He added: "Like everything in life, I try to make the best of things and see them from a positive perspective. I am now in the process of finding my own path in life, with the role and circumstances I have."
Queen Margrethe's Apology
After the initial announcement, Queen Margrethe II publicly apologized for the distress it caused her family. She said at the time she was "sorry" for how it had impacted them and emphasized her desire for the monarchy to be "in keeping with the times." The Queen abdicated in January 2024, handing the throne to her son, King Frederik X.
