Queen Margrethe Wants 4 Grandkids to 'Shape Their Own Lives' without Titles after Death of Husband of 51 Years

• The Queen of Denmark, Queen Margrethe, has removed four of her grandchildren's royal titles.

• The Monarch has been thinking about the decision for a while and believes it is in their best interest.

• The affected children's father, Prince Joachim, is shocked and unhappy about the new development.

• The Queen's other grandchildren will retain their royal titles.

The Queen of Denmark, Queen Margrethe II, may not be the most famous monarch in the world, but she has been a topic of discussion many times for various reasons, one of which is her marriage to her France-born late husband, Henrik.

The couple was married for over five decades before Henrik's demise in 2018.

They first met in 1965 at a dinner party in London while Henrik was stationed as a diplomat. At the time, the prince consort had no title, while Queen Margrethe was the heir to the Danish throne. The pair got to talking, but Henrik did not make a significant impression on Her Majesty.

However, one year later, the couple met again at a wedding in Scotland, and this time, their encounter would see the start of a lovely romance. They began dating, and after spending a few months together, Queen Margrethe and Henrik were convinced they were right for each other.

So, in 1966, Henrik popped the question with a double diamond ring, after which the couple made a traditional balcony appearance in front of a huge crowd.

A few months later, on June 10, 1967, Queen Margrethe and the prince consort tied the knot at Holmens Kirke, Copenhagen, Denmark. They would later welcome two sons, Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim, and for the next couple of years, the family of four lived happily.

In 1972, Queen Margrethe ascended the throne following her father's demise. She also took on the role of head of state, but thankfully with help from her husband, the burden was not too much for Her Majesty.

Together, the couple tried to balance leadership with family life and excelled at it. However, Queen Margrethe and Henrik's relationship was not without its low points.

Following the Queen's ascension, Henrik was given the title of Prince Consort which he wasn't happy about. He desired to be King Consort and often complained about not getting the recognition he felt was due him.

On one occasion, when Frederik and Joachim were prioritized over him at a Royal gala while the Queen was ill, Henrik flew back to France angry. It would take the persuasion of the monarch to bring her husband down to Denmark.

But irrespective of their beliefs and misunderstandings, the couple remained with each other until the end. After nearly 51 years of marriage, Henrik passed away in February 2018 after a battle with dementia and lung infection.

Even in death, the Prince consort proved his love for Her Majesty. At Henrik's funeral, the monarch was surprised by her late husband. Henrik had instructed that all the wreaths be arranged into a garden for Queen Margrethe to walk on in recognition of their lovely wedding.

It was a beautiful sight, which the Queen will remember for the rest of her life. A few years after the funeral, Queen Margrethe made the news again following a shocking decision from the monarch.

Queen Margrethe Strips Four of Her Grandchildren of Their Royal Titles

On September 28, 2022, Queen Margrethe shocked the public and Danish Royal Family members when she decided to remove four of her grandchildren's royal titles. In a statement released by the royal place, it was mentioned that the children of the monarch's second son, Joachim, will no longer be addressed as prince and princess or His/Her highness.

Following his claims, the royal household responded, noting that although there were a lot of emotions, the decision was long overdue and could not be reversed.

According to the Danish palace, Her Majesty made a move after seeing similar changes in other monarchies. Also, the palace stated that the ruling was in line with the similar changes other royal houses have made in the past years.

The change in titles will apply to Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik, and Princess Athena, who, from January 2023, will be addressed by their titles of Count and Countess of Monpezat.

While the Queen's grandchildren's titles will be discontinued, the statement mentioned that all four grandchildren would remain in the line of succession.

Following the big revelation, the monarch was greatly criticized for her decision. In her defence, Queen Margrethe explained that the decision was for her grandkids' benefit.

According to her, the decision had been on her mind for a while, and she believed it would benefit her affected grandchildren in the future. Unfortunately, the members of the Royal Family are displeased with the Queen's decision and have voiced their thoughts.

Prince Joachim Opens up about His Mother's Decision

Although Queen Margrethe says her decision to strip her four grandchildren of their royal titles, Prince Joachim is still very sad and disappointed about his mother's decision. According to the monarch's second son:

"We are all very sad. It's never fun to see your children being harmed. They are being put in a situation they do not understand."

Joachim further claimed that his four children were only given five days of notice before having their titles stripped. Following his claims, the royal household responded, noting that although there were a lot of emotions, the decision was long overdue and could not be reversed.

Queen Margrethe is positive that the move will allow her grandchildren to "shape their lives without being limited by the special considerations and duties" of being a member of the Danish Royal Family.

Meanwhile, Her Majesty's decision will not affect the four children of Frederik and his wife, Princess Mary — Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, and Princess Josephine. Prince Christian, the oldest of four children and future king of Denmark, joined the Danish Royal Family in 2005.

His younger sister, who attends Tranegårdsskolen in Gentofte, arrived in 2007, while the last duo and twins, Vincent and Josephine, joined the family in 2011.