Photo: MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (C) and family members, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark (5L), Princess Isabella of Denmark (3L), Princess Josephine of Denmark (L), Prince Vincent of Denmark, Prince Christian of Denmark, Count Henrik, Count Felix, Count Nikolai and Countess Athena wave to the crowd on the Queen’s 83rd birthday from the balconies of Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on April 16, 2023.

The monarch of Denmark turned 83 on Sunday, appearing on the balcony of Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen to mark the milestone. Queen Margrethe stepped out her sonsCrown Prince FrederikandPrince Joachim, her daughters-in-lawCrown Princess MaryandPrincess Marieand all eight of her grandchildren for the first time since shestrippedPrince Joachim and Princess Marie’s four children of their royal titles.

Queen Margrethe (whorecentlyhadback surgery) was first seen solo on the middle of three balconies at Amalienborg Castle to greet the cheering crowds gathered below, as the Royal Life Guards Band played a birthday tune. Crown Prince Frederik, 54, and Crown Princess Mary, 51, then appeared on an adjacent terrace with their four children:Prince Christian, 17,Princess Isabella, 15, and 12-year-old twinsPrince VincentandPrincess Josephine.

At the same time, Prince Joachim, 53, and Princess Marie, 47, came out with Count Nikolai, 23, Count Felix, 20, Count Henrik, 13 and Countess Athena, 11, on the third balcony. Prince Joachim shares his two eldest sons with his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. He married Princess Marie in 2008, and they later welcomed Henrik and Athena.

MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark waves to the crowd on her 83rd birthday from the balcony of Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on April 16, 2023. - Queen Margrethe II is to date Europe’s longest serving monarch.

Shortly after the announcement was made, the monarch issued anapologysaying she “underestimated” how greatly the shock of the news would affect the family dynamic and calling the change “necessary future-proofing of the monarchy.”

Queen Margrethe.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (top C) and family members wave to the crowd on the Queen’s 83rd birthday from the balconies of Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on April 16, 2023. - Queen Margrethe II is to date Europe’s longest serving monarch.

The shakeup did not affect the four children of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. Unlike their first cousins, Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine retain their titles and remain in the royal house for the foreseeable future as the children of the Crown Prince Couple. The eldest son of Queen Margrethe and the latePrince Henrik, Frederik, is first in line to the Danish throne.

In March, the Danish Royal Houseannouncedthat Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are moving to Washington, D.C. this summer. Prince Joachim is set to start a new job at the Danish Embassy under the Ministry of Defense on September 1, helping strengthen the defense industrial cooperation with the United States and Canada in the coming years. As the palace said the prince and his “family” will make the move, Count Henrik and Countess Athena are expected to join their parents. It remains unclear whether Nikolai and Felix will join their father in America full-time.

Prince Joachim with his wife, Princess Marie, and four children.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images

Prince Felix, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, Princess Athena, Prince Henrik and Prince Nikolai

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The Danish Royal House added that Prince Joachim and Princess Marie have been living in France (Marie’s home country) for the last four years for Joachim’s job.

“The reason was that Prince Joachim initiated France’s highest-ranking military training course as a supplement to the Prince’s long-term commitment to the Defense,” the palace said of the couple’s initial move from Denmark. “After completing the education, both the Prince and Princess were associated with the Danish Embassy in Paris as the Defence Attaché and Special Cultural Representative, respectively.”

source: people.com