Margrethe of Denmark at the New Year’s gala sends a message to her grandchildren: «You eight are my joy». And she at four she revokes the title of prince

With the latest New Year’s tail blow, four of Margaret II of Denmark’s eight grandchildren ceased to be princes when the queen’s controversial decision came into force, which in September last year announced that the offspring of her younger son, Prince Joachim, would have lost the title and would have become only count and countess from 1 January. Last September the Queen announced that the offspring of her youngest son, the Prince Joachimshe would lose this title and become only a count and countess from 1 January.

Although this decision by the monarch has caused a real schism in the Danish royal family, its members have begun to reconcile and face 2023 with a conciliatory spirit, or at least that was the message conveyed yesterday during the traditional New Year’s reception.

Queen Margrethe II, i Crown Prince Frederick and Maria and Prince Joachim, who unlike in previous years spent Christmas separately, reunited for New Year’s Day at Amalienborg Palace, the scene of the gala dinner that the royal family hosts every year on 1 January for the senior officials of Denmark.

The day before, Margrethe II had already assured that family problems had begun to be resolved in her New Year’s speech, during which she did not hesitate to refer to the schism.

“Difficulties and disagreements can arise in any family, including my own. The whole country has witnessed this», acknowledged the monarch in her annual speech, «It pains me that the relationship with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie has gone through difficulties. We are now experiencing a more serene and reflective moment, and I am confident that the family can face the new year with trust, understanding and a new leap of courage”, continued Margrethe II, who concluded by saying that “all my eight grandchildren are my great joy”.

Yesterday was the first time since the pandemic that the New Year’s reception was held with its usual pomp and the Danish royal family wanted to overcome their problems to attend the banquet together. Queen Margrethe II arrived at the palace in the pearl tiara and blue dress she wore for her official Golden Jubilee portrait last year.

Princess Mary, however, chose a dress with sequins and pearl embroidery by the Danish company Lasse Spangenberg Copenhagen and wore the tiara of red currant leaves, a jewel originally belonging to her husband’s grandmother, Queen Ingrid, who is the his favorite.

The gala banquet was missing the Princess Mariewife of Prince Joachim, although according to the royal house her absence was due to the illness of one of her sons, 13-year-old Count Henry.