Prince Joachim and Princess Marie will move to Washington DC with Henrik and Athena© Getty

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie announce family celebration ahead of US move

Denmark's Prince Joachim and Princess Marie will relocate to Washington DC this summer

Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
April 13, 2023

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are set to celebrate a special family occasion next month ahead of their move to the US this summer.

The Danish royal court has announced that the couple's eldest son, Count Henrik of Monpezat, 13, will be confirmed in Frederikskirken – The Danish Church in Paris. 

In a statement, the palace revealed that the service will take place at 11am by Henrik Wigh-Poulsen, bishop of Aarhus.

It is not known whether Henrik's grandmother, Queen Margrethe, and his uncle and aunt, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary, will attend his confirmation.

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are also parents to 11-year-old Countess Athena of Monpezat, while Joachim also has sons, Nikolai, 23, and Felix, 20, from his previous marriage to Countess Alexandra.  

RELATED: Prince Joachim: Important decision made over his royal future

© Getty

Prince Henrik was born on 4 May 2009

Joachim and Marie are set to move to Washington DC in the US from Paris this summer.

The prince will take up a new role under the Ministry of Defense as defense industry attaché at the Danish Embassy in Washington DC.

The couple's move comes just months after Queen Margrethe stripped four of her grandchildren of their royal titles. Learn more about the Danish monarch and other European monarchs in the clip below...

WATCH: Meet the Kings and Queens of Europe

The decree, which came into effect on 1 January, meant that Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena are now titled Count of Countess of Monpezat.

The decision caused major controversy within the family – with Margrethe later taking the unprecedented step of apologising to Joachim and his children.

Meanwhile, the Danish royal family will reunite for the queen's 83rd birthday at Christian IX's Palace at Amalienborg on Sunday.

It will be one of Margrethe's first public appearances after undergoing back surgery in February.

Crown Prince Frederik has been acting as his mother's regent during her recovery from her hospital procedure.

LISTEN: Want to hear more about the royal family? Check out the best of 'A Right Royal Podcast' 

Make sure you never miss a royal story! Sign up to The Royal Explainer newsletter to receive your weekly dose of royal features and other exclusive content straight to your inbox.

More Royalty

See more