Danish princes' mother Countess Alexandra 'saddened, in shock' after Queen Margrethe removes royal titles

The mother of Denmark's two princes who have been stripped of their royal titles by the country's Queen says she is "saddened and in shock".

From January next year, Prince Nikolai, 23, and Prince Felix, 20, will no longer be able to use their prince titles.

They also won't have the status of His/Her Royal Highness.

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The move also applies to their siblings from their father's second marriage, Prince Henrik, 13 and Princess Athena, 10.

Queen Margrethe II made the decision to remove her grandchildren's royal titles on September 28, saying in a statement she hoped it would allow them "to shape their own lives" into the future.

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The decision to slim down the monarchy, which is one of Europe's oldest, is in line with changes "other royal houses have made", the palace said.

The changes affect only the four children of Prince Joachim

No changes have been made to the titles of Crown Princess Mary's four children with Crown Prince Frederik, Joachim's older brother.

Prince Joachim is sixth-in-line to the Danish throne.

His ex-wife and mother of Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix, Alexandra Countess of Frederiksborg, has issued a statement via Danish media following the Queen's decision.

"We are all confused by the decision. We are saddened and in shock," Alexandra said via her press advisor Helle von Wildenrath Løvgreen, according to Se og Hør.

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"This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracised. They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them."

The statement was also issued on behalf of Prince Joachim and his current wife, Princess Marie, whom he married in 2008.

However, Prince Joachim's four children will be allowed to keep their aristocratic titles of count and countess of Monpezat, titles which Princess Mary and her children have too.

They will be known as His Excellency Count of Monpezat or Her Excellency Countess of Monpezat.

All four will maintain their places in the order of succession, the palace said.

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Alexandra remains close with her ex-husband and is frequently invited to official royal events and private celebrations, including holidays to the family's French residence.

Most recently, she attended a gala concert held for Queen Margrethe in Copenhagen.

The event took place on September 10 at the Danish Royal Theatre to mark the 50th anniversary of Queen Margrethe's accession to the throne.

The Countess of Frederiksborg wore the Alexandrine tiara, gifted from Queen Margrethe when Alexandra married Prince Joachim in 1995.

She is one day expected to pass the tiara to the future wives of her sons.

Prince Nikolai and Prince Felix currently work as fashion models while their younger siblings are still at school.

The Danish royal family's full statement reads: "Her Majesty has decided that, as of 1 January 2023, His Royal Highness Prince Joachim's descendants can only use their titles as counts and countess of Monpezat, as the titles of prince and princess that they have held up until now will be discontinued," the Danish royal household said in a statement.

"Prince Joachim's descendants will thus have to be addressed as excellencies in the future.

"The Queen's decision is in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made in various ways in recent years.

"With her decision, Her Majesty The Queen wishes to create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves.

"All four grandchildren maintain their places in the order of succession."

READ MORE: Prince Felix begins new career as a model, just like his brother

The royal family of Denmark's neighbour and close ally Sweden made similar changes to its monarchy in October 2019.

Then, King Carl XVI Gustaf revoked the royal status of five of his grandchildren, stripping them of the titles of 'royal highness' and freeing them from royal duties.

The decision affected the children of Prince Carl and Princess Sofia and Princess Madeleine's three children

At the time, both Prince Carl and Princess Madeleine welcomed their father's decision.

The decision to slim down Denmark's monarchy, which is one of Europe's oldest, comes amid speculation King Charles III of Britain has plans to do the same.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are said to be concerned that no announcement has been made on whether their children will be given the titles of prince and princess.

Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, automatically became a prince and princess upon Queen Elizabeth II's death and are entitled to be styled His Royal Highness and Her Royal Highness.

But Prince Harry and Meghan are still waiting to hear if their children will be allowed to use their new titles.