Danish Royals Shake Off Family Rift, Spend Christmas Together in Merlisborg Palace

Things went smoothly for the Danish royals this Holiday season. We should say. Despite the controversies hounding them all year round, and the chaotic 2022 where Queen Margrethe II found herself at the center of criticism when she stripped her four grandchildren (Prince Joachim's children) of their royal status, they ended 2023 with a family reconciliation.

When the Queen's second son, Prince Joachim, moved with his wife and two children to the USA to take a diplomatic job in the Danish Embassy, most royal fans, even the media, thought his relationship with his mother and older brother, Crown Prince Frederik, was forever strained.

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II

However, Prince Joachim debunked the rift rumor and returned to Denmark with his family in October to attend the Birthday Reception Gala of his nephew and godson, Prince Christian.

Days before Christmas, the Danish Royal House published a photo of Prince Joachim with his wife and two children taken at their Washington home, with a caption stating that the prince and his family will return home to spend Christmas with the Queen and Crown Prince Frederik's family.

Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Countess Athena, and Count Henrik

Crown Prince Frederik with his four children

Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary's marriage has also been rocked by controversies lately due to the extramarital affair rumor of Frederik with a Spanish socialite. However, the Danish royal family has not paid attention to this rumor.

The Crown Prince and his wife were seen spending a few days in Australia with their children, perhaps to visit Mary's family, and then flew back to Denmark in time for Christmas.

Princesses Isabella and Josephine wrapping gifts for Christmas

On Christmas morning, the Danish royals attended a Christmas church service in Aarhus Cathedral. Prince Joachim, his wife, Princess Marie, and three of his four children - Count Felix, Count Henrik, and Countess Athena of Monpezat, were seen with the Queen, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, and the Crown Prince's children - Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine, and Prince Vincent, celebrating Christmas. Prince Joachim's eldest son, Prince Nikolai, spent Christmas in New Zealand.