Princess Mary defends Queen Margrethe's decision to strip grandchildren of their royal titles

Crown Princess Mary has addressed the surprise changes made to her niece and nephews' royal titles for the first time.

At the 6th International Youth Conference "Re-imagine Youth Mental Health" held on Friday, the Australian-born royal shared her thoughts on Queen Margrethe's controversial decision.

"I can understand that it is a difficult decision to make and a very difficult decision to receive," Princess Mary told reporters at the event, according to Hello! magazine.

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"Change can be difficult and can really hurt. But this does not mean that the decision is not the right one."

She added: "We will also look at our children's titles when the time comes. Today we do not know what the royal house will look like in Christian's time, or when Christian's time begins to approach."

Prince Joachim, the father of the children affected by the change, claims he was only given "five days notice" of the historic change.

"We are all very sad. It's never fun to see your children being mistreated like that," he told Ekstra Bladet. "They find themselves in a situation they do not understand."

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Prince Nikolai, 23, and the oldest of the children affected, also shared in his fathers sadness.

"My whole family and I are, of course, very sad. We are, as my parents have also stated, in shock at this decision and at how quickly it has actually gone," he told Ekstra Bladet

He says that he was only informed of the life-changing decision a few days before the news went public.

"I haven't counted the days, but it can't be longer than a little over a week ago...I am very confused as to why it has to happen like this."

The change also affects his siblings, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13 and Princess Athena, 10.

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Their grandmother, Denmark's Queen Margrethe II, announced her intention to "slim down" the monarchy in a shock statement on Wednesday.

"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."

Princess Mary's children - Princess Isabella, twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, and especially the oldest, Prince Christian, who will one day assume the crown - will not be affected by the change

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"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," the palace added.

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