Queen Margrethe and her son Prince Joachim have had peace talks this week to smooth things over, the Royal Household has said – amid reports the Prince had a secret crush on his sister-in-law Princess Mary for years.
The palace has confirmed that and her son want to ‘look foward’ following a row over the matriarch’s decision to remove princely titles from Prince Joachim’s children, which he claimed ‘hurt’ them.
As the conflict brewed between the Danish royals, Spanish magazine reported the real reason for the rift was because Joachim ‘was deeply in love with his sister-in-law Mary’.
However royal fans will now hope any animosity within the family is coming to an end after the Danish royal household confirmed to a publication that the mother and son are trying to ‘find their way through’ their differences after holding talks this week.
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And now the Spanish magazine has sparked more speculation around the rift, after reporting that Joachim ‘was deeply in love with his sister-in-law Mary’A photograph was even published by Swedish woman’s weekly magazine ‘Svensk Damtidning’, allegedly showing Joachim trying to kiss Mary at a gala party of the Royal Guard Regiment.
The Spanish magazine recalled: ‘With obvious signs of drunkenness, it seems that the youngest son of Queen Margarethe tried to stamp his lips on his sister-in-law’s mouth, that she got out of the way as she could and with an unperturbed smile, while Marie witnessed the embarrassing moment.’
In 2009, Crown Princess Mary and Prince Frederik warmly greeted one another with a kiss on each cheek during an outing in Denmark
It’s been a dramatic week for the Danish Royal Family – after Queen Margarethe II of Denmark announced last week that she would be removing princely titles from four of her grandchildren. Pictured, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, Princess Mary and Prince Frederik in 2019
The Danish Royal Family tree. Prince Joachim’s children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023
The Danish Royal Family tree. Prince Joachim’s children Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20, Henrik, 13, and Athena, 10, will all be losing their titles on January 1 2023
Queen Margrethe of Denmark and her eldest son refused to answer questions regarding the fallout of last week’s bombshell royal titles as they arrived at the state opening of parliament on Tuesday
Queen Margrethe (pictured in blue) made the decision to strip princely titles from Prince Nikolai (left), Prince Felix (second from left), Prince Henrik (right) and Princess Athena (second from right). Also pictured: Prince Joachim and Princess Marie
It also suggested that shortly after Frederik and Mary’s wedding in 2004, Danish media began to speculate that Joachim ‘was deeply in love with his sister-in-law’.
‘In fact, it didn’t help that in 2007 he announced his engagement to a French girl (Princess Marie) with the same name and a striking physical resemblance,’ wrote the magazine.
But with such strong rumours about the prince’s crush on Mary, the magazine claims Margarethe called ‘them to order’ and ‘started a campaign to show that there were no problems between the two women,’ including ‘unscheduled outings’ together.
MailOnline has contacted the Danish Royal Household for comment.
On Tuesday, Queen Margrethe and her eldest son refused to answer questions regarding the fallout of last week’s bombshell royal titles as they arrived at the state opening of parliament.
Margrethe, 82, was joined by Crown Prince Frederick and his wife Princess Mary at the opening of the Folketing, in Copenhagen.
The assembled press asked a flurry of questions to all three royals on their arrival but the trio ‘chose with big smiles to turn their backs to the press and talk among themselves before they entered Christiansborg’, the seat of the Danish parliament, according to local news outlet The royals put on an upbeat display and smiled to each other as they took their seats ahead of the opening. Margrethe opted for a vibrant mint dress and matching hat, while Australian-born Mary looked more sombre in grey.
It comes hours after Queen Margrethe issued a public apology for her decision to strip four of her grandchildren – the sons and daughters of her youngest son, Prince Joachim – of their royal titles.
She said she was sorry for hurting her family with the ‘difficult decision’ but insisted it was the right choice.
And according to Danish royal commentators, the public statement is ‘completely unusual’ and shows how serious the conflict within the family has become.
They added the Queen likely fears coming across as an ‘ice queen’, following several emotive public statements from Joachim in which he spoke of how his children had been ‘harmed’ by their grandmother’s decision.
A bitter royal row within the household has unfolded in recent days after Queen Margrethe, 82, announced she would be removing princely titles from Joachim’s children, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10. Pictured, Marie, Joachim, Mary and Frederik on 11 September 2022 in Denmark
As of January 1, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, will become Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies, it was announced on Wednesday. Pictured, the children with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie on September 11, 2022
Speaking to Danish publication , royal house expert Lars Hovbakke Sørensen said: ‘It is a completely unusual situation, it is historic, and it shows something about the seriousness that the Queen feels called to make such a personal announcement in a press release.
‘It is quite unusual and she has never done this before. It shows that there is a huge conflict.’
Mr Sørensen added the Queen’s statement was a way of ‘trying to close this conflict’ and draw a line under it, following several days of turbulence between the monarch and her youngest son.
Last Thursday Prince Joachim told Ekstra Bladet his children had been ‘hurt’ by their grandmother’s decision to remove their princely titles and make them counts and countesses, adding he had only had a few days to break the news to them before it was announced publicly.
However, according to Mr Sørensen: ‘You cannot have members or former members of the royal house constantly speaking in the press about the Queen’s decision and web page discussing back and forth with each other in full public view.’
In a statement released online, the Queen said she had made the decision as ‘a mother, grandmother and monarch’ and ‘no one should doubt’ her family are ‘her great pride and joy’
He added Queen Margrethe ‘had to say something’ following Prince Joachim’s public comments.
In a statement, the monarch admitted she had ‘underestimated’ the impact of her actions but said it was ‘a long time coming’ and it had been made as ‘a Queen, mother and grandmother.’
Another royal expert, Jacob Heinel Jensen, agreed the Queen felt ‘compelled’ to issue a public statement about the reported animosity and told
He added it is likely she did not want to make a public apology about her decision, but that Prince Joachim’s public comments left her with no choice but to address the accusations.
Mr Heinel Jensen said: ‘Queen Margrethe has felt compelled to [issue a statement], and it is because the Royal House is of course afraid that she will appear like an ice queen, which she has become in the past week. This is of course an attempt to say that she is not, she also feels it and is upset about the situation.’
Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark (pictured) have admitted their relationship with Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary is ‘complicated’ – and that they still haven’t heard from Margrethe II after she stripped four of her grandchildren of their royal titles
Front: Queen Margrethe, Middle Row (left to right): Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine, Princess Athena, Prince Henrik. Back row (left to right): Princess Benedikte, Princess Isabella, Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Christian, Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Prince Felix and Prince Nikolai in a portrait celebrating Queen Margrethe’s Golden Jubilee
He added he thought the Queen’s decision was the right one – although he was unsure if it would calm Prince Joachim’s strong feelings about his mother’s decision.
The Queen’s statement read: ‘In recent days, there have been strong reactions to my decision on the future use of titles for Prince Joachim’s four children. It obviously affects me.
‘My decision has been a long time coming. With my 50 years on the throne, it is natural both to look back and to look forward.
‘It is my duty and my wish as Queen to ensure that the monarchy continues to shape itself in keeping with the times.
‘It sometimes requires difficult decisions to be made, and it will always be difficult to find the right moment.
‘Carrying a royal title entails a number of obligations and duties, which will in future be the responsibility of fewer members of the royal family.
‘This adaptation, which I see as a necessary safeguard for the future of the monarchy, I want to make in my time.’
Prince Joachim of Denmark (pictured) once again hit out at his mother Queen Margrethe II’s decision to strip his four children of their royal titles
Speaking in Copenhagen (pictured) Crown Princess Mary of Denmark defended her mother-in-law Queen Margrethe’s decision to strip four of her grandchildren of their royal titles, and suggested her own children’s positions might not be secure
She continued: ‘I have made my decision as Queen, mother and grandmother, but as a mother and grandmother I have underestimated how much my youngest son and his family feel affected. It makes a big impression, and I’m sorry for that.
‘No one should be in doubt that my children, children-in-law and grandchildren are my great joy and pride.
‘I now hope that we as a family can find the peace to find our way through this situation ourselves.’ She signed off the note; ‘MARGRETHE R.’
According to Mr Sørensen, the incredibly personal statement, which includes the Queen’s admission she had ‘underestimated’ how seriously her grandchildren would be affected by the change, shows how serious the conflict within the family is.
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox femail floatRHS" data-version="2" id="mol-6806d070-4003-11ed-ad64-c9a6fcea5660" website Margrethe and Prince Joachim 'have been talking' to heal rift
