Princes Nikolai, Felix, Henrik & Princess Athena, Part 1: February 2012 - July 2018

[victor1319]

German Tabloid "Bunte (online)" has it, that the Queen of Denmark has some troubles with Nikolai's relationship...

https://www.bunte.de/royals/daenisch...-gefallen.html

... because she wants him to prepare for his visit of a Military School, while he wants to spend the summer with his girlfriend.

Well, gossip! But why does he have to go to a Military School anyway? Will he get an appanage from the state or will he have to care for his own in his adult live? If he is on his own, than he should have a plan, how to make money!

And if he has to make money... his job as a model is certainly not a good choice. How about studying "chinese" to become a (well paid) liason person between China and the EU (via Denmark) or something? For Sotheby's would a be good to study in this direction too...

[Muhler]

Well, I doubt QMII is concerned about Nikolai's girlfriend and certainly not at this stage. It's a high school crush, and it may end now that they have both left the high school to move on with whatever plans Nikolai and Benedikte have.

If anyone are concerned, it would be Joachim and Alexandra, and since Benedikte has been presented to Nikolai's family, I don't think they have any particular concerns in that respect either.

The DRF has always been affiliated with the military and it's no secret that Joachim has expressed a very big wish for Nikolai to join the army and become an officer of the reserves. - Something that IMO as well, will be beneficial for Nikolai later on.
With M&F having four children it is IMO almost certain Nikolai will have to build a career for himself and earn his own money. I would be very surprised if he becomes an active member of the DRF on a level that will entitle him to be granted an apanage.
At best Nikolai will take on a couple of protections and have an expense account.

I cannot imagine either that Nikolai will pursue a full time modelling career. He will almost certainly go to the university at some point after his time in the military. By all accounts he has the brains for it! Not to mention that his parents will not consider a modelling career, even a professional well-paid modelling career as adequate. I'm certain they will demand that he get a higher education.
That he may earn some extra money on the side by modelling from time to time is another matter.

[victor1319]

Do you know, if he will get an appanage? I just found an article from 2016, that the majority of the Danes want to cut him off.


I mean, his father has money... - but a lot of kids too... and much of it is said to be on stocks, which can be quite volatile.

[Somebody]

Maybe Nikolai can follow princess Elisabeth's lead and become part of the diplomatic services (as for example is king Willem-Alexander's cousin prince Jaime).

Anything in the business world is more tricky but not unheard of in royal circles.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by victor1319

Do you know, if he will get an appanage? I just found an article from 2016, that the majority of the Danes want to cut him off.


I mean, his father has money... - but a lot of kids too... and much of it is said to be on stocks, which can be quite volatile.

He will almost certainly not get an apanage.

Nikolai is actually better off than Athena and Henrik.
Joachim's fortune will be split in four, provided he dies after our Marie.
But Nikolai and Felix will also inherit from their mother, and she must have amassed a decent fortune by now. Certainly enough for her to live a very comfortable life without having to work.

A career in public service would be pretty uncontroversial.
But he may also settle abroad or work for a major Danish company and be more or less permanently stationed abroad, and that will keep him out of the public eye in regards to any potential controversies.

[RoyalHighness 2002]

Muhler do you think Nikolai will become the Princess Elisabeth of his generation, attending the big family events and holding a few patronages but not necessarily carrying out engagements full-time?

[Muhler]

That's next to impossible to say until we know what career Nikolai intends to pursue.

Personally I doubt it.

If anyone of the DRF children are going to do an Elisabeth, it will IMO be Josephine and/or Vincent. - It's good to have a reserve at hand, who can step in from time to time.

[Archduchess Zelia]

Originally Posted by Muhler

But Nikolai is not the only one who is graduating.
Felix had his last day at Krebs School, after ten years. And both mother Alexandra. Joachim the dad and our Marie the bonus mother was there on the last day. And so were Henrik and Athena - who for the time being can't whistle...
Nikolai and girlfriend Benedikte also dropped by.

Felix admitted that it was a bit hard studying for the final examins, but he did well.
Next month he will start a Gammel Holte High School, located not far from his home. Quite a few of the boys from his class will also go to that high school, so he won't feel alone.
Gammel Holte High School is an older high school, with a lot of traditions and located in a posh neighborhood it's safe to say that his fellow students will on average be considerable more affluent than the average high school student elsewhere in DK.

*Gammel Hellerup Gymnaisum But yeah, like Christian, Isabella and the twins' school, a public private school. Alumni includes QMII's goddaughter Ellen Hillingsø. They have nice facilities though – has recently been redesigned by another former alumnus, Bjarke Ingels. And a perfectly understandable choice for Felix – he knows the area, lived on the road on which the school is placed for 11 years. Won't be surprised if that's the school the Crown Prince children opt for as well. If my memory serves me right, GHG is the high school that is closest to their current school.

[Muhler]

Thanks for the correction, Archduchess Zelia.

I'm not too much into the geography of schools and high schools in Copenhagen.

[Archduchess Zelia]

Can't blame you. Holte and Hellerup are practically two sides of the same coin – at least where I'm from

[gerry]

Originally Posted by Archduchess Zelia

Can't blame you. Holte and Hellerup are practically two sides of the same coin – at least where I'm from

So why did Prince Nikolai go to Herlufsholm and why is this school not selected for Prince Felix? I am just curious and wonder whether school fees are perhaps an issue?

[Blog Real]

I think Nikolai will want to pursue a career (but not as a model) and earn his money. I think fashion is just a hobby.

Does Countess Alexandra work?

[carina_a]

Zelia, you mentioned the CP children go to 'a public private school', what exactly do you mean?

I've always thought they went to a decent but normal public school (no uniforms etc) unlike Joachim's children. But it sounds like it's not just an average school? More like a public funded school but for posh people?

I have zero knowledge of the education system in Denmark so be patient with me please

[betina]

Originally Posted by carina_a

Zelia, you mentioned the CP children go to 'a public private school', what exactly do you mean?

I've always thought they went to a decent but normal public school (no uniforms etc) unlike Joachim's children. But it sounds like it's not just an average school? More like a public funded school but for posh people?

I have zero knowledge of the education system in Denmark so be patient with me please

The children of crownprince Frederik attend a normal public School. Its located where a lot of the children have wealthier parents, but if a child move to the area, he or she will be attending that School imidiately.

[Tiggersk8]

Catching up on things around after a crazy visit from Real Life that’s not over yet, but calmed down a wee bit. Anyway...

A question...When did that sweet adorable little boy grow up into this handsome young man attending his 1st white tie event!?!

Sigh...It really does seem it happened in the blink of an eye, doesn’t? [emoji4]

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by gerry

So why did Prince Nikolai go to Herlufsholm and why is this school not selected for Prince Felix? I am just curious and wonder whether school fees are perhaps an issue?

Why Nikolai preferred to go to Herlufsholm, rather than signing up for a high school in Copenhagen is of course something that is open for speculation.
Boarding schools are subsidized but it's still pretty expensive to send your child to one, especially one of the better boarding school and Herlufsholm is one of the best boarding schools in DK. - As such they tend to attract children of parents who have the means (and as such also the status) to send their children there.
The pupils of Herlufsholm also tend to form a lifelong network, which comes in very handy in the future, not least in a small country like DK.

Herlufsholm was the second choice for Felix, according to himself.
What happens is that people sign up for which high schools they wish to attend. In Felix case it was Gammel Hellerup High School, close to where he lives (and still in a very affluent neighborhood mind you). With Herlufsholm as the second choice and presumably another (state) high school as the third choice.
Okay, if there is not a vacant place at Gammel Hellerup High School, then it will be checked whether Herlufsholm has a vacant place (if they want him and if his parents can afford to pay the fee that is.) and if they decline then it's the third option. And if there is no room at the third high school the authorities will allocate a place for him at a fourth high school.
Gammel Hellerup High School is run by the state, so it's free of charge.

What happened was IMO that Felix and most of the boys in his class, whom he seems to be good friends with, all decided to apply for Gammel Hellerup High School and as such stay more or less together for three more years.

All state/public schools in DK, up to and including high school level (and that includes most trade and technical schools as well) are free of charge.
Quite a lot of children attend private schools though. (Our oldest went to a private school, while our youngest attended the local state school.) But the fees are heavily subsidized, so it's generally not that big a burden on the family economy.

But Archduchess Zelia certainly has a point when she says that the school M&F's children attend is a "private" public school. Apart from having a level that ranks among the best state schools in DK, it is located in an affluent neighborhood and as such have a majority of pupils who live in that area - of affluent, influential, well educated and highly committed parents. That rubs off on the school of course. That also applies to the high school Felix is going to attend.
There are of course pupils of less fortunate parents in these schools, but they are very much in the minority. And the school is not that sought after by less affluent parents. It's simply a question of: Will your child fit in and be comfortable there?
In the case of Gammel Hellerup High School, many who are to sign up for a high school may deselect this high school, if they come from a more modest (in this context normal) background and have to rely on SU and part time jobs for their pocket money. SU is the amount all pupils in trade schools and high schools get from the state. It's not a loan, it's money in the pocket while they study to be used at their own discretion.
SU is not that big an amount, but certainly better than nothing(!). So the question is: Will you sign up for a high school, where a number of your fellow students spend an amount that is equivalent to the monthly SU in a day(!) and who live a lifestyle you simply cannot keep up with - and who (in some cases) may be terrible snobs as well?
Or will you sign up for a more "normal" high school, where your fellow students are more like yourself? Perhaps also politically.
Especially as the education can be just as good or even better at an "ordinary" high school.
Hence "private" public school.

[Tiggersk8]

It sounds like the school Nikolai went is quite a lot like Eton in the UK. Would that be right to say Muhler?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Tiggersk8

It sounds like the school Nikolai went is quite a lot like Eton in the UK. Would that be right to say Muhler?

I think so.
Herlufsholm and Sorø Academy are, I believe, the boarding schools that can best be compared to the better British boarding schools.

[Muhler]

Nikolai has given an interview to the magazine Euroman.

https://www.bt.dk/royale/prins-nikol...ske-i-familien

Here he is talking about his immediate plans for the future.
Sitting next to him during the interview was Alexandra, who also assisted Nikolai in regards to phrasing his replies as the magazine notice. - He is of course not used to nor trained in dealing with the press and giving longer interviews.

As you know Nikolai will join the army next month and about the decision he says:
"It was a wish within the family that that I at least signed up for conscription. (volunteer conscription. Way over 90 % of all Danish conscripts are volunteers.) So I thought I would build on that with an additional military education."
Der var et ønske i familien om, at jeg tog i hvert fald værnepligten derinde. Så tænkte jeg, at det vil jeg bygge videre på med en lidt længere militæruddannelse,

Here Alexandra interjects:
"I think we have recommended some things. But ultimately it was your choice."
Jeg tror, vi har anbefalet nogle ting. Men det var dit valg i sidste ende«

Nikolai adds that he was the one who told his dad about his decision. (It's no secret Joachim very much wished for Nikolai to join the military.)

Nikolai has not yet determined what he want's to do after the military. But it will be a civilian education, either in DK or abroad.
With perhaps the occasional modelling job in between.

Nikolai has previously talked about him wanting to become a farmer (and agricultural education) or becoming a racing driver - but farming certainly is very much off. But he'd still like to race if he got the opportunity.
However mother Alexandra believes that to be too late. He should have started driving go-carts years ago for him to become a racing driver.

Nikolai also got a little heat during the PH's funeral events, when he went off modelling. But that with the full support of his parents, who believed he should stay committed to his modelling-commitments. And that PH would have agreed with them in that respect.

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The magazine Euroman is I believe a magazine that is very much aimed at men, who are successful career-men and young men like Nikolai. Who wish to remain on top of the latest male trends in regards to fashion, accessories, appearance and so on.

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Nikolai is of course getting a lot of attention, because he is the first young man who is becoming an adult in the DRF for many years.
So there is a lot of interest in what his role is going to be in regards to the DRF. What kind of life he intends to build and so on. It is very much an indication of what certainly Joachim's children will do.

[polyesco]

thank you Muhler.
I like how Alexandra goes in "it was your choice dear" Lol reminds me of some parents
It of course causes interest, being the first grandson of the Queen, and like you said a good indication for Joachim's kids.