Countess Athena of Monpezat leaned on her older brothers during her Confirmation ceremony, as the Danish royal family celebrated the milestone with new, playful portraits. The only daughter of Prince Joachim, 56, and Princess Marie of Denmark, Athena, 14, was confirmed at Georgetown Lutheran Church in Washington DC on May 2, according to an official Instagram post. The caption read: 'Congratulations to Her Excellency.'
Family Portraits Capture Lighthearted Moments
One sweet photo taken by royal photographer Zahra Khadir showed Athena lying across the arms of her brothers Count Nikolai, 25, Count Felix, 23, and Count Henrik, as the siblings shared a lighthearted moment. In another image, Prince Joachim can be seen fondly looking down at his daughter, with Princess Marie standing next to Henrik, who turned 16 on May 4. The Confirmation ceremony of Queen Margrethe's youngest grandchild was held at the Georgetown Lutheran Church, according to a statement from the Danish royal household.
Athena's Elegant Attire
Athena, who is 10th in line to the Danish throne, radiated confidence in an elegant, ankle-skimming white dress with a dipped back, paired with beige espadrilles from LK Bennett London. Princess Marie, who turned 50 in February, was every bit the proud mother as she and Prince Joachim posed for pictures alongside Athena. While Joachim donned a smart navy suit, Marie was typically elegant in a floral print dress from Reiss, a statement Lady Dior bag, red Michael Kors sandals, and pink sapphire and ruby earrings from Mauboussin.
Brothers in Support
A new photo from Countess Athena's Confirmation ceremony showed her being lifted by her brothers Count Henrik, Count Nikolai, and Count Felix. Nikolai and Felix are Prince Joachim's sons from his first marriage to Countess Alexandra, which ended in 2004. Following his wedding to Princess Marie in 2008, the royal couple welcomed Henrik the following year. Like their father, they all wore dark blue suits as they attended their sister's Confirmation in the US capital, where the family has lived since 2023.
Birthday Portraits and Family Life
Unlike her Confirmation attire, Athena was dressed casually in dark wash jeans and a light blue striped shirt for her 14th birthday portraits released on Instagram on January 24. The photo was included in a selection of Athena's best photographs over the years, from her first portraits as a newborn to relaxed holiday snaps with her whole family. Fans said Athena looked 'so grown up' and congratulated the family, with one person writing: 'Once a princess, always a princess. Happy birthday, Your Excellency. Hope you celebrated in style.'
Move to the United States
The family moved to the United States in 2023 when Joachim was appointed Defense Industry Attaché at the Danish Embassy, following Queen Margrethe's abdication and decision to strip his children of their royal titles. At the time, the palace said King Frederik's brother would 'help strengthen Denmark's defense industrial cooperation with the United States and Canada in the coming years.' With just a year and a half left on his contract, which expires in August 2027, Princess Marie told BILLED-BLADET they are 'really looking forward' to returning home to Copenhagen.
Future Plans
'The most important thing for me and my family are the years that lie ahead of us,' the mother-of-two said. 'Right now, as you know, we are staying in the US for another year and a half. Then the children can finish their schooling. It has been really exciting to be out of the country and be able to support Denmark abroad.'
Background on Title Changes
Their move to Washington DC came after Queen Margrethe's shock decision to strip Nikolai, Felix, Henrik, and Athena of their titles 'complicated' relationships within the royal family in 2022. At the time, Joachim hit out at the move, saying it had 'punished' his children and claimed he was only made aware of his mother's decision five days before the public announcement. However, a spokesperson for the Danish royal family insisted the decision had 'been a long time coming.' Joachim also admitted Athena was being bullied at school, with peers reportedly telling her: 'Is it you who is no longer a princess?'
Line of Succession
Despite no longer being considered official members of the Danish royal family, they have maintained their positions in the line of succession following Queen Margrethe's abdication. Joachim's son Count Nikolai, 24, is sixth in line to the throne even though he is no longer a working royal. Nikolai is a model with a large Instagram following. His siblings, Felix, 21, Henrik, 14, and Athena, 11, hold the seventh, eighth, and ninth places in the succession line, respectively.
Queen Margrethe's Abdication
Margrethe, now 86, stunned the nation and royal watchers around the world when she used her New Year's Eve speech in 2022 to announce live on television that she was stepping down as Queen after 52 years. In her address, she said she had taken stock after undergoing back surgery and decided it was time 'to leave the responsibility to the next generation'—namely her eldest son, now King Frederik.
