Counts Nikolai, Felix, Henrik & Countess Athena, News Part 1: 2023 -

[Mbruno]

Has Nikolai made a longer term move to Australia - or are the couple doing summer in Europe and escaping to the southern hemisphere for winter (and their summer)

It is autumn now in Australia and Nikolai is down there., so I don't see a seasonal pattern.

 

[iceflower]

Nikolai in Dior mood today:

Count Nikolai of Monpezat on Instagram: "advertisement | Two outfits, one identity - that’s the power of styling! Wearing BOSS outfits in Sydney #BOSS #BeYourOwnBOSS"

466 likes, 20 comments - nikolaitildanmark on May 23, 2025: "advertisement | Two outfits, one identity - that’s the power of styling! Wearing BOSS outfits in Sydney #BOSS #BeYourOwnBOSS".

www.instagram.com

 

[polyesco]

Looks like Nikolai has a job in Australia. Modeling or something else he didn't elaborate.

"– I have a job, and I won't say more, he initially told The Daily Telegraph.
– I fell in love with Sydney and Australia in general when I was here last. At that time I promised myself that I would try to come back and experience what it's like to live here. I love it, Nikolai told the newspaper.
Through his agency, Count Nikolai confirms in writing to HER&NU that "he has a job in Australia".

Grev Nikolai og kæresten Benediktes nye tilværelse: Nu bor de i Australien

Efter en uforglemmelig tid i Sydney har grev Nikolai og Benedikte Thoustrup taget skridtet og bosat sig i Australien – og Nikolai afslører også, at han har et nyt job.

www.alt.dk

 

[Muhler]

Hardly a surprise, considering how often they have been there and how fond the obviously are of the country.

 

[Izzie]

Hardly a surprise, considering how often they have been there and how fond the obviously are of the country.

That's great! Plus it seems they've established a nice circle of friends as well. I also hope that they can visit Mary's family from time to time.

 

[CrownPrincessJava]

Looks like Nikolai has a job in Australia. Modeling or something else he didn't elaborate.

"– I have a job, and I won't say more, he initially told The Daily Telegraph.
– I fell in love with Sydney and Australia in general when I was here last. At that time I promised myself that I would try to come back and experience what it's like to live here. I love it, Nikolai told the newspaper.
Through his agency, Count Nikolai confirms in writing to HER&NU that "he has a job in Australia".

Grev Nikolai og kæresten Benediktes nye tilværelse: Nu bor de i Australien

Efter en uforglemmelig tid i Sydney har grev Nikolai og Benedikte Thoustrup taget skridtet og bosat sig i Australien – og Nikolai afslører også, at han har et nyt job.

www.alt.dk

That's great news! It is obvious he loves Australia; which is no surprises as our country is pretty awesome

 

[iceflower]

The beautiful couple has posed for ELLE Denmark, out this week:

ELLE DK on Instagram: "ELLEs juninummer – dansk ELLE nr. 200 – er på gaden tirsdag d. 27. maj. @nikolaitildanmark og @benediktethoustrup mødte hinanden på Herlufsholm og havde deres første date på en nærliggende tankstation. Siden er de blevet voks

4,840 likes, 80 comments - elledanmark on May 26, 2025: "ELLEs juninummer – dansk ELLE nr. 200 – er på gaden tirsdag d. 27. maj. @nikolaitildanmark og @benediktethoustrup mødte hinanden på Herlufsholm og havde deres første date på en nærliggende tankstation. Siden er de blevet voksne og har...

www.instagram.com

This must be them as well

ELLE DK on Instagram: "Udgave nummer 200 af ELLE Danmark er på gaden på tirsdag 27. maj – og det fejrer vi med masser af kærlighed og hele 212 sider. Indtil da er du velkommen til at gætte med i kommentarsporet, hvem det mon er, der pryder jubilæumsf

635 likes, 5 comments - elledanmark on May 25, 2025: "Udgave nummer 200 af ELLE Danmark er på gaden på tirsdag 27. maj – og det fejrer vi med masser af kærlighed og hele 212 sider. Indtil da er du velkommen til at gætte med i kommentarsporet, hvem det mon er, der pryder jubilæumsforsiden?".

www.instagram.com

 

[Izzie]

On the occasion of King Frederik's 57th birthday on May 26th, in a private ceremony before the family meal at Amalienborg, the King awarded Count Nikolai and Count Felix the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog. They will now both have their Knight shields prepared to be hung in the Knight's Chapel at Freseriksborg. The DRF Instagram has posted some lovely photos of the presentation a.d a lovely photo of the King with his nephews

Congratulations to them both!

DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰 on Instagram: "Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres Excellencer Greve Nikolai

3,673 likes, 32 comments - detdanskekongehus on May 27, 2025: "Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres Excellencer Greve Nikolai og Greve Felix...

www.instagram.com

 

[iceflower]

How nice!

H.M. Kongen har tildelt Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til D.E. Greve Nikolai og Greve Felix

Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres...

www.kongehuset.dk

High quality versions can be downloaded here:

Mediebank

I forbindelse med redaktionel omtale kan der på denne side downloades fotos til redaktionelt brug. Retningslinjer for brug skal altid følges. I fanebladene nedenfor kan man finde pressefo...

www.kongehuset.dk

 

[Stefan]

On the occasion of King Frederik's 57th birthday on May 26th, in a private ceremony before the family meal at Amalienborg, the King awarded Count Nikolai and Count Felix the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog. They will now both have their Knight shields prepared to be hung in the Knight's Chapel at Freseriksborg. The DRF Instagram has posted some lovely photos of the presentation a.d a lovely photo of the King with his nephews

Congratulations to them both!

DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰 on Instagram: "Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres Excellencer Greve Nikolai

3,673 likes, 32 comments - detdanskekongehus on May 27, 2025: "Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres Excellencer Greve Nikolai og Greve Felix...

www.instagram.com

That is great that the finally got an danish Order-

 

[Hans-Rickard]

How nice!

H.M. Kongen har tildelt Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til D.E. Greve Nikolai og Greve Felix

Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres...

www.kongehuset.dk

High quality versions can be downloaded here:

Mediebank

I forbindelse med redaktionel omtale kan der på denne side downloades fotos til redaktionelt brug. Retningslinjer for brug skal altid følges. I fanebladene nedenfor kan man finde pressefo...

www.kongehuset.dk

How nice to see… The Order of Dannebrog is such a nice compromise for them who lost their princely titles. I expect Henrik and Athena to get it as well when they are adults.

 

[Somebody]

That's lovely. Good to see their positions as grandchildren of a Danish monarch are recognized this way. And yes, I assume we'll see a similar occasion when both Henrik and Athena are adults.

 

[EML]

On the occasion of King Frederik's 57th birthday on May 26th, in a private ceremony before the family meal at Amalienborg, the King awarded Count Nikolai and Count Felix the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog. They will now both have their Knight shields prepared to be hung in the Knight's Chapel at Freseriksborg. The DRF Instagram has posted some lovely photos of the presentation a.d a lovely photo of the King with his nephews

Congratulations to them both!

DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰 on Instagram: "Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres Excellencer Greve Nikolai

3,673 likes, 32 comments - detdanskekongehus on May 27, 2025: "Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres Excellencer Greve Nikolai og Greve Felix...

www.instagram.com

It was reported that their parents were in Copenhagen over the past few days. Would they have been invited to the presentation?

 

[tommy100]

Their father had an official role as Chancellor of the order so I assume he would have been involved as well in someway.

The Royal Orders of Chivalry

Denmark has two Royal Orders of Chivalry: the Order of the Elephant, and the Order of Dannebrog. The Royal Orders of Chivalry

www.kongehuset.dk

 

[Mbruno]

That's lovely. Good to see their positions as grandchildren of a Danish monarch are recognized this way. And yes, I assume we'll see a similar occasion when both Henrik and Athena are adults.

It is still, however, a downgrade considering that, as Princes of Denmark, they probably would have been awarded the Order of the Elephant.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

It is still, however, a downgrade considering that, as Princes of Denmark, they probably would have been awarded the Order of the Elephant.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but was it not the standard practice - until Nikolai and Felix - to appoint Princes to Denmark as Knights the Order of the Elephant when they reached the age of majority, if they were not such already? That was certainly done for Princes Ingolf and Christian, who were in the same position as Princes Nikolai and Felix. But unlike Ingolf and Christian, then-princes Nikolai and Felix were not inducted into the Order of the Elephant when they turned 18, which caused some comment here on TRF.

This decision by King Frederik X causes me to wonder why Nikolai and Felix weren't knighted into the Order of the Dannebrog when they turned 18, which would still have created a distinction between them and the children of Frederik. Does Frederik X have different policies on the royal orders of chivalry than Margrethe II? Or was it that as princes, knighting Nikolai and Felix at all would have sent mixed messages about their future role, while that is no longer an issue now that they are clearly demoted?

 

[Muhler]

Several thoughts:
Nikolai and Felix are not and were not children of the monarch or future monarch. Which could explains why they did not get the Order of the Elephant.
Nor did they and nor were they intended to be working members of the DRF, which could explain why they didn't get the Order of Dannebrog, upon turning 18.

This also smells to me as a healing-process within the family.
QMII made the cut, so to speak, (we can discuss endless the circumstances and whether it was needed, but she did it) it's now up to King Frederik to dress the wound.
Fortunately King Frederik has always had a close relationship with both Nikolai and in recent years perhaps even more so with Felix, who is quite often near the Regent Couple.
And with Nikolai, who has always been the one who was most vocal about his lost status (and who still hints his misgivings), now settling in Australia, at least for some time.
And also with his relationship with his Benedikte becoming ever more official, the opportunities to heal the wounds within the family are lining up.
QMII, who is now officially sidelined, can sit in the back, knowing that what she did was the right thing (we can discuss the timing and the methods, but IMO it was the right thing to do), while the family comes together again.

It is now the reign of King Frederik X, with Christian and Isabella being adults. With Christian quietly taking on the role of Crown Prince and with a public wish/or at least willing acceptance of Isabella being in a supporting role, there really isn't that much real need for Joachim and Marie within the DRF anymore. There is still a lot of need for Joachim, due to his now considerable experience as a military attache with Marie in the traditional supporting role as the wife of a diplomat. But increasingly less so as working royals.
I think it is likely that Joachim will return to DK after his posting in Washington, for a couple of years. Before being stationed abroad again. He is simply needed as a military attache, especially in these times and it doesn't exactly hurt that he is a genuine Prince of the blood.
I do not find it unlikely that Joachim will be posted next in Canada, which has a considerable and vocal French-speaking minority. Or Brussels (NATO, or what's left of it or a European defense alliance replacing NATO). Or France (Close political and military ties with DK, with a large military industry with considerable co-operation with the Danish defense industry).

 

[iceflower]

Nikolai has commented on the honour:

Count Nikolai of Monpezat on Instagram: "very honoured to have received the order Storkorset af Dannebrog yesterday from my uncle on his birthday 🇩🇰 Photo: @detdanskekongehus"

16K likes, 221 comments - nikolaitildanmark on May 27, 2025: "very honoured to have received the order Storkorset af Dannebrog yesterday from my uncle on his birthday 🇩🇰 Photo: @detdanskekongehus".

www.instagram.com

 

[Mbruno]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but was it not the standard practice - until Nikolai and Felix - to appoint Princes to Denmark as Knights the Order of the Elephant when they reached the age of majority, if they were not such already? That was certainly done for Princes Ingolf and Christian, who were in the same position as Princes Nikolai and Felix. But unlike Ingolf and Christian, then-princes Nikolai and Felix were not inducted into the Order of the Elephant when they turned 18, which caused some comment here on TRF.

This decision by King Frederik X causes me to wonder why Nikolai and Felix weren't knighted into the Order of the Dannebrog when they turned 18, which would still have created a distinction between them and the children of Frederik. Does Frederik X have different policies on the royal orders of chivalry than Margrethe II? Or was it that as princes, knighting Nikolai and Felix at all would have sent mixed messages about their future role, while that is no longer an issue now that they are clearly demoted?

The fact that they didn't get the Order of the Elephant at 18, when they were still Princes to Denmark, suggests to me that their future status, even back then, was already under review.

As Princes, they should have been made Knights of the Elephant (per tradition). Being downgraded to counts only somewhat rectified that incongruence. Giving them the Order of Dannebrog now looks like a consolation prize or, as Muhler suggested, an attempt at reconciliation with Joachim and his family.

 

[JR76]

Does Frederik X have different policies on the royal orders of chivalry than Margrethe II?

Every monarch is free to within a certain framework rule their house according to their own wishes. The same also goes for the Royal orders.

The fact that they didn't get the Order of the Elephant at 18, when they were still Princes to Denmark, suggests to me that their future status, even back then, was already under review..

According to what we were told during the "title crisis" it had been decided years earlier that the children of Prince Joachim would loose their royal titles either upon marriage or as they turned 25.

 

[kalnel]

I think they've bestowed the Order of the Elephant at different points over the years. For instance, Frederik and Joachim received it on Margrethe's accession. Margrethe, Benedikte, and Anne-Marie received it on Frederik IX's accession. In 1912, future Frederik IX and his brother Knud received their on their father's accession.

More recently, Christian received it on his 18th birthday, but Isabella, Vincent, and Josephine received it on Frederik IX's accession.

But Knud's children, Ingolf and Christian got theirs when they turned 21. Elizabeth got hers at age 27. (I don't see a mention of any occasion.)

In the generation before that, Flemming, Oluf, Georg, and Gorm received theirs at age 18. Earlier princes seemed to get it around age 18, but not always.

List of knights of the Order of the Elephant - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Tatiana Maria]

According to what we were told during the "title crisis" it had been decided years earlier that the children of Prince Joachim would loose their royal titles either upon marriage or as they turned 25.

According to Prince Joachim, the "lose titles at 25" plan was first presented to him in May 2022. Prior to that, the expectation in the family (and, it seems, among most Danish royal watchers) was that they would lose them on marriage indeed (as did King Frederik IX’s nephews).

However, Queen Margrethe II stated that her decision had long been in the works and it was difficult to find the right moment, so @Mbruno ’s theory that their status was already “under review” when Nikolai turned 18 remains plausible.

 

[polyesco]

Very nice gesture by the King.
Now, imo, it might be good time for Nikolai and Felix to put some effort in their foundation, of which they are board members of.

Nikolai og Felix Fonden - H.E. Greve Nikolai og H.E. Greve Felix' Fond

Fondens formål er at støtte humanitære, kulturelle og uddannelsesmæssige formål i eller udenfor Danmark. Nikolai og Felix Fonden - H.E. Greve Nikolai og H.E. Greve Felix' Fond

www.kongehuset.dk

 

[Tatiana Maria]

How nice!

H.M. Kongen har tildelt Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til D.E. Greve Nikolai og Greve Felix

Ved en privat begivenhed forud for familiefrokosten på Amalienborg, i anledning af Hans Majestæt Kongens 57-års fødselsdag, tildelte Kongen i går Storkorset af Dannebrogordenen til Deres...

www.kongehuset.dk

High quality versions can be downloaded here:

Mediebank

I forbindelse med redaktionel omtale kan der på denne side downloades fotos til redaktionelt brug. Retningslinjer for brug skal altid følges. I fanebladene nedenfor kan man finde pressefo...

www.kongehuset.dk

This also smells to me as a healing-process within the family.
QMII made the cut, so to speak, (we can discuss endless the circumstances and whether it was needed, but she did it) it's now up to King Frederik to dress the wound.
Fortunately King Frederik has always had a close relationship with both Nikolai and in recent years perhaps even more so with Felix, who is quite often near the Regent Couple.
And with Nikolai, who has always been the one who was most vocal about his lost status (and who still hints his misgivings), now settling in Australia, at least for some time.
And also with his relationship with his Benedikte becoming ever more official, the opportunities to heal the wounds within the family are lining up.
QMII, who is now officially sidelined, can sit in the back, knowing that what she did was the right thing (we can discuss the timing and the methods, but IMO it was the right thing to do), while the family comes together again.

I think the King’s choice to mark the occasion by publishing that gallery of smiling family photos (including one of Frederik X flanked by both nephews with his arm around Felix, and two which are informally posed to make the king’s bestowal of insignia on two new knights look reminiscent of two nephews unwrapping birthday presents from their uncle), which is not the usual practice (it wasn’t done when Christian and Isabella received their Elephant insignia, by my recollection), supports your interpretation that this was meant to be perceived as a very public manifestation of family reconciliation.

 

[Hans-Rickard]

It sounds to me too as a part of an ongoing healing process between the mainline royal family and Prince Joachim’s branch, made possible by Frederik’s accession to the throne…

He has a different mindset than his mother (who has admitted herself many times that she has never been good at reading the emotional side of others) and a very close relation with his 2 eldest nephews ever since they were born…

He is now the chief of the family and responsible for everything that happens, so if there is any animosity left towards Queen Margrethe from anyone, they don’t have to worry about her now because she can no longer do anyone any harm…

I’m sure Frederik will at any cost try to avoid the unsolved lifelong rift with his brother, that was between Frederik IX and Prince Knud…

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Moved my reply here:

New Titles for Queen Margrethe's Descendants: 2008 & 2022, 2024

https://www.kongehuset.dk/nyheder/gaesteliste-ved-foedselsdagsforestilling-i-det-kongelige-teater-den-15-april-2025# Den kongelige familie Hans Majestæt Kongen Hendes Majestæt Dronningen Hans Kongelige Højhed Kronprinsen Hendes Kongelige Højhed Prinsesse Isabella Hans Kongelige Højhed Prins...

www.theroyalforums.com

 

[An Ard Ri]

That was a wonderful birthday gesture by the king to bestow the Order of Dannebrog on his nephews,Count Felix and Count Nikolai.
King Frederick issues gifts to nephews following the removal of their titles

 

[iceflower]

ELLE has shared a nice making-of of the photo session with Nikolai and Benedikte (see above):

ELLE DK on Instagram: "@nikolaitildanmark og @benediktethoustrup pryder forsiden af det nye juninummer af ELLE, som netop er landet i supermarkeder og kiosker i dag. Kom med backstage, da vi skød billeder af parret på en solrig forårsdag i Tisvilde.

4,612 likes, 41 comments - elledanmark on May 26, 2025: "@nikolaitildanmark og @benediktethoustrup pryder forsiden af det nye juninummer af ELLE, som netop er landet i supermarkeder og kiosker i dag. Kom med backstage, da vi skød billeder af parret på en solrig forårsdag i Tisvilde. Video...

www.instagram.com

 

[Luc122]

Every monarch is free to within a certain framework rule their house according to their own wishes. The same also goes for the Royal orders.

According to what we were told during the "title crisis" it had been decided years earlier that the children of Prince Joachim would loose their royal titles either upon marriage or as they turned 25.

Yes, some would say it is as the King or Queen wills. This entitlement from some that are not immediate heirs is quite disturbing and does not bode well.

 

[Archduchess Zelia]

It is still, however, a downgrade considering that, as Princes of Denmark, they probably would have been awarded the Order of the Elephant.

Not necessarily. As per the order's current statutes, only the sovereign's children (only sons up until the amendment to include women in 1958) are "born" members of the order.

That QMII didn't give the Elephant to Nikolai and Felix after their 18th birthdays when they were princes is a pretty good indicator they were never predestined to receive it solely on account of being Danish princes.

I personally don't even think their "demotion" has shifted their chance of receiving the Elephant down the line. I think the plan was always to give it on account of service to the monarchy and I doubt it would ever be given to all of them. But say one of them picks up a few patronages and remain a visible figure within the family (not unlike Ingolf's role today), I still think it's plausible they might receive it eventually.

According to Prince Joachim, the "lose titles at 25" plan was first presented to him in May 2022. Prior to that, the expectation in the family (and, it seems, among most Danish royal watchers) was that they would lose them on marriage indeed (as did King Frederik IX’s nephews).

However, Queen Margrethe II stated that her decision had long been in the works and it was difficult to find the right moment, so @Mbruno ’s theory that their status was already “under review” when Nikolai turned 18 remains plausible.

Well, with emphasis on that being Joachim's side's claim

I personally find it hard to believe that that was the collective expectation within the family (or among any informed royal watchers even) as stripping the kids of their titles upon marriage would require the monarch to deny hers or his blessing for said marriage and the outward objective of that is just awful.