Prince Joachim's 'dream job' on hold after suffering blood clot on the brain

Prince Joachim of Denmark was just weeks away from starting his "dream job" in France when he suffered a blot clot on his brain.

The 51-year-old, who is Crown Prince Frederik's younger brother, was rushed to hospital on Friday night, where he was taken in for emergency surgery.

Doctors at the Toulouse University Hospital in southern France saved the royal's life, with palace spokesperson Lene Balleby​ confirming the procedure "for a blood clot in the brain".

"The operation was successful, and His Royal Highness' condition is stable," Ms Balleby said in an official statement issued by the Danish Royal Household on Saturday.

Joachim – who is Princess Mary's brother-in-law – has been in France since May.

The royal was due to start his new role as a diplomat at the Danish Embassy in Paris in September.

Last September, Prince Joachim began training at the École Militaire in Paris, France's highest-ranking military course focused on strategic leadership and international relations. 

It was at the invitation of France's minister of defence and Joachim, who is sixth-in-line to Danish throne, is the first Danish officer to take part.

The course went hand-in-hand with Prince Joachim's current post in the Danish Defence Force, where he has been special advisor to the chief of defence since 2015.

But his health scare has put a hold on plans to take up the job inside the embassy, which Danish media have described as Joachim's "dream job" and a "new and exciting chapter in his life".

Joachim's wife Princess Marie, 44, remains at his bedside within the hospital.

The palace described Prince Joachim's condition as "stable" and said he was "doing well under the circumstances".

Joachim and Princess Marie had been holidaying at the Château de Cayx, near Cahors, which has been owned by Queen Margrethe since 1974. The castle – and its attached vineyard – is now the official French residence of the Danish royals.

The royal couple was there with their children Prince Henrik, 11, and Princess Athena, eight, and Prince Joachim's eldest sons Prince Nikolai, 20, and Prince Felix, 18, from his first marriage to Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg who also joined the family holiday.

The palace shared a photo to mark Prince Felix's 18th birthday along with new portraits of the young royal for the historic occasion.

It's been a tumultuous few months for Prince Joachim and his family who were forced to leave France earlier this year when their youngest son, Prince Henrik, suffered his own health scare.

They rushed back to Denmark in late March after Prince Henrik began experiencing breathing issues connected with asthmatic bronchitis.

He was tested for COVID-19 at Denmark's largest hospital, Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, but fortunately returned a negative result.