Prince Joachim of Denmark and his wife, Princess Marie, have been living in Washington, D.C., with their two youngest children since 2023, marking a significant new chapter in their lives. The move came after a tumultuous period in the Danish royal family, when Queen Margrethe made the controversial decision to strip her son’s four children of their royal titles.
This decision, intended to “future-proof” the monarchy, sparked public debate and created a fracture within the family. Prince Joachim, who was particularly vocal in his criticism, expressed his dismay at the sudden change, which deeply affected his children. In an unexpected turn, Queen Margrethe later apologized for underestimating the impact of her actions on her family, but maintained that it was necessary for the future of the crown.
Prince Joachim, 55, is currently in the midst of a three-year assignment as an attaché at the Danish Embassy under the Ministry of Defense, a role that has taken him and his family to the U.S. As he reflected in a rare interview, Prince Joachim shared that while they miss Denmark deeply, they are also open to the idea of staying abroad longer. “We have a desire to come home. But we also do not rule out the possibility of staying abroad. Now we have to see. For now, it is on our radar, when the post here stops, we will return home,” he said. His work, which involves covering the U.S. and Canada, will extend until 2026, with the option for an extension.
Living in the U.S. has brought both challenges and new opportunities for Prince Joachim and Princess Marie. They are settling into their new life, where their two children, Henrik, 16, and Athena, 13, are thriving in school and expanding their social circles. Joachim emphasized that while the family enjoys being together, balancing their busy schedules remains an ongoing task. However, despite the many positives, Prince Joachim acknowledged the difficulty of being far from their roots in Denmark. “We can all feel it, and we can also feel it in the children, that it is at home in Denmark that we have our largest social base,” he said, referring to their close-knit family life back home.
The Danish royal family’s strained relationship following the title-stripping incident has been a sensitive subject for Prince Joachim. The 2023 decision, which saw his children lose their prince and princess titles, created a public rift that shook the family to its core. The move, which had been presented as necessary to secure the future of the monarchy, was met with surprise and sadness, particularly from Prince Joachim. He expressed his hurt at being blindsided by the decision and how it affected his children. However, in recent months, there has been a sense of reconciliation. Queen Margrethe issued an apology, acknowledging her misjudgment in how the decision affected the family dynamic. Furthermore, in an apparent olive branch, King Frederik, Joachim’s elder brother and the new king, recently bestowed a significant honor upon Joachim’s two older sons, Count Nikolai and Count Felix, presenting them with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog, one of Denmark’s highest honors. This gesture marked a step towards mending the relationship within the family, and it seems that Prince Joachim has since moved past the tensions surrounding the title removal, as he remarked to The Washington Post, “We’ve moved on.”
Despite the challenges, Joachim and his family are adjusting to their new life in the U.S., making the most of their time abroad while keeping close ties with Denmark. Their transition has not been without difficulty, especially with the physical distance from their homeland and the emotional weight of the royal title dispute. Yet, they remain hopeful about the future, with the possibility of returning to Denmark still on their radar after Joachim’s diplomatic assignment ends. For now, they are focused on their immediate priorities: family, work, and the next chapter of their lives, whether that is back in Denmark or elsewhere.
The Danish royal family’s recent events have shown that even within the world of monarchy, change is inevitable, and it is often accompanied by moments of tension and reconciliation. For Prince Joachim, this period of transition is not just about navigating his diplomatic career but also about reshaping his family’s future. While the royal titles may have changed, it is clear that the bond between Joachim, Princess Marie, and their children remains strong. As the family contemplates their next move, they are not only looking at the next chapter in their personal journey but also considering the long-term future of the Danish monarchy.
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