As Prince Joachim prepares to leave Washington, his eldest son is beginning a new chapter in New York City. For some time now, Nikolai of Denmark, known as Nikolai de Monpezat since his grandmother changed his title from prince to count, has been making his own way in the world.
While he never misses major family celebrations, ever since completing his Business Administration degree, he has embraced an almost nomadic lifestyle alongside his girlfriend, Benedikte Thoustrup. Winters are spent in Australia, summers in France, while spring and fall are divided between Denmark and New York. The eldest son of Prince Joachim is currently spending an extended period in the United States, just as his father prepares to bring his own time there to an end.
After making his acting debut in Doctor Glas, a psychological thriller based on the 1905 novel by Swedish writer Hjalmar Söderberg, considered a classic of Scandinavian literature, and with his fashion career becoming more established by the day, Count Nikolai is living out one of his dreams: experiencing life as a New Yorker, even if only for a while. Strolls through Manhattan, art exhibitions, visits to the city’s most iconic skyscrapers, and bagels in the park are all part of his new routine.
© Count Nikolai of MonpezatHis arrival in the city coincided with an unexpected revelation from his stepmother, Princess Marie of Denmark, who confirmed a few weeks ago in the Danish magazine Billed Bladet, one of the country’s most popular publications, that the family’s time in the United States will not be extended. The French-born Danish princess shared that the family, including her husband and their two children, 16-year-old Henrik and Athena, who recently turned 14, will leave Washington, D.C., in August 2027, when Prince Joachim’s assignment as defense industry attaché comes to an end. Joachim is the brother of the King of Denmark.
© Count Nikolai of MonpezatHow Life Has Changed for the Family
In the interview, Princess Marie made it clear that the plan is to return to Denmark, where they may eventually take on some official duties. It is worth remembering that the family has been away from Denmark for years. Before moving to Washington, they lived in Paris, Marie’s birthplace, although that relocation was not a decision they made themselves. This time, however, the move back to Denmark appears to be entirely the family’s choice.
© Kongehuset“The most important thing for me and my family is the years we have ahead of us. Right now, we will stay in the United States for another year and a half. Then the children will be able to finish their studies. Henrik will complete secondary school and turn 18, and after that, we will move back. Athena will begin secondary school in Denmark,” she said in the interview.
The truth is that after several turbulent years, particularly toward the end of Queen Margrethe’s reign, when the monarch removed the titles from Joachim’s four children from both his first and second marriages, King Frederik’s reign has brought a sense of calm to the situation. He even made an important gesture toward his older nephews by awarding them honors from the Danish Crown. It now seems that this distance from the kingdom, for both Joachim and Nikolai, has ultimately been beneficial for everyone.
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