Danish Princess Athena has been bullied at school after her grandmother, Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II, stripped her of her royal title.
Last week, the monarch made the surprise decision that four of her grandchildren, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and 10-year-old Princess Athena, would no longer be known as princes or princess.
The children of Queen Margrethe’s youngest son, Prince Joachim, will also no longer have the status of His/Her Royal Highness. She made the decision in an effort to slim down the monarchy.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II with (L-R) Prince Nikolai, Prince Felix, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, (bottom row L-R), Princess Athena and Prince Henrik.
(Image: Getty)Prince Joachim’s wife, Princess Marie, has now revealed their youngest daughter Athena is facing “bullying” from her classmates.
“Athena is bullied at school. They come and say: ‘Is it you who is no longer a princess?'” Marie told Danish news outlet BT.
“I think I have to defend our children now. We think there are two serious things in this case. The first is to take a name from a child. Our children. It’s about their name, it’s not about titles at all. Athena and Henry of Denmark. Those are their names.”
Princess Marie revealed their youngest daughter Athena is facing “bullying” from her classmates.
(Image: Getty)Princess Marie also claimed Queen Margrethe blindsided her family and not giving her and husband Prince Joachim enough time to tell the children themselves.
“The children were publicly exhibited… at very short notice. This means we, as parents, have not had time to prepare them for the change and people’s reactions,” she continued.
Hours after Queen Margrethe announced the title change, Prince Joachim told Danish magazine Ekstra Bladet that his family are “all very sad.”
“It’s never fun to see your children being harmed. They have been put in a situation they do not understand,” he said.
The four children will be allowed to continue to use their titles as counts and countess of Monpezat and retain their places in the Danish line of succession.
However, the Queen wants the children “to shape their own lives” outside of the royal family and the expectations that come with a HRH title.
“Her Majesty has decided that, as of 1 January 2023, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim’s descendants can only use their titles as counts and countess of Monpezat, as the titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued,” the Danish royal household said in a statement on September 28.
It noted that Prince Joachim’s descendants be referred to as “excellencies” in the future and that the change is “in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made” recently.
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