Prince Joachim and Princess Marie to move to America after children's royal titles taken away

The Danish royals at the centre of a family crisis over the removal of their titles are relocating to the United States.

Prince Joachim and his wife Princess Marie, and their two youngest children, will move to Washington DC next year.

The situation is remarkably similar to that of Prince Harry and Meghan who moved to North America after stepping back from their places as senior working royals in 2020.

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In the case of the Danish royals, however, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie had not sought any changes in their status before the action was taken in September.

Queen Margrethe II announced on September 28 that from January 1, 2023, four of her eight grandchildren would have their 'prince and princess' titles taken away and they would no longer be styled as His/Her Royal Highness.

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They are the children of the Queen's youngest son, Prince Joachim: Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13 and Princess Athena, 10.

The move immediately prompted furious backlash from the parties directly involved: Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, the mother of Joachim's two youngest children.

Prince Joachim said they were all "very sad", adding, "It's never fun to see your children being harmed. They have been put in a situation they do not understand".

Princess Marie said their daughter, Athena, had been "bullied at school": "They come and say: 'Is it you who is no longer a princess?'"

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The situation is clearly taking a toll on the royal family, as evidenced by their decision to separate for Christmas.

Last week, the Danish royal household confirmed Prince Joachim and Princess Marie, and their children, will spend Christmas away from Denmark enjoying "a long-planned trip abroad".

The location has not been disclosed.

Queen Margrethe's eldest son and heir Crown Prince Frederik will spend Christmas with his wife Crown Princess Mary, and their four children, in Australia.

It will be a private visit, their first to Crown Princess Mary's homeland, in five years.

Queen Margrethe, 84, will have Christmas with her sister Princess Benedikte and friends at Marselisborg Castle in Aarhus, north-west of Copenhagen, as per tradition.

Weeks earlier, Prince Joachim revealed that he and his family were leaving France just three years after relocating from Denmark for jobs at the Danish embassy in Paris.

He took up a role as a defence attaché in 2021 after completing France's highest-level military courses.

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Joachim hinted a job in the military was his next step but refused to elaborate further.

But it was believed he wouldn't be returning to the Scandinavian country because of the issues with his family.

Now, his decision to take up a role in the United States has immediately drawn comparisons with Prince Harry and Meghan.

Last month, 9Honey pointed out the similarities between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Prince Joachim and Princess Marie.

Much like Prince Harry, Prince Joachim is the so-called 'spare'.

They also were likened to the Fab Four of Britain, Prince William and Catherine, and Prince Harry and Meghan.

But dynamic between Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim have long been said to be strained.

The latest twist has since exposed a bigger family issue after Princess Marie told reporters the relationship between the couples was "complicated".

News of Prince Joachim's new job came from Danish magazine BT, but there has been no official confirmation from the palace.

Recently Prince Joachim told the publication his time at the Danish embassy in Paris was coming to an end but hinted about his future in the defence industry.

"It's a fantastic job, but it stops this summer, that's it," he said.

"It's not something you just leave behind. It must be kept going, and the forging must be done while the iron is hot."

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie are expected to leave France for the US in mid-2023, during the summer months.

Prince Joachim's two elder sons from his first marriage to Countess Alexandra, Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, are not likely to make the move to the US.

Both work as models across Europe and could choose to split their time there and in America.