King Frederik and nephews Count Nikolai and Count Felix

King honors nephews whose titles were previously changed

One of the monarch's nephews reacted to the honor on social media

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MAY 28, 2025 11:46 AM EDTMAY 28, 2025, 11:46 AM EDT

King Frederik of Denmark had a gift for two of his nephews on his birthday. His Majesty, who turned 57 on Monday, awarded Count Nikolai and Count Felix of Monpezat the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog on May 26. The King bestowed the honor upon his nephews during a private event. Pictures from it accompanied the news of Nikolai and Felix's appointment.

"At a private event prior to the family lunch at Amalienborg, on the occasion of His Majesty the King's 57th birthday, the King yesterday awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog to Their Excellencies Count Nikolai and Count Felix," the Danish Royal House announced on May 27 (translated to English). "As a result of the appointment, the Counts – like other Danish recipients of the Grand Cross – must have a personal knight's shield created. When completed, it will be hung in the Knight's Chapel at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød."

Nikolai took to his personal Instagram to share photos from the event, writing: "very honoured to have received the order Storkorset af Dannebrog yesterday from my uncle on his birthday 🇩🇰."

Nikolai, 25, and Felix, 22, are Prince Joachim's son from his first marriage to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. King Frederik's younger brother also shares son Count Henrik and daughter Countess Athena with his second wife, Princess Marie. The Prince and Princess titles of Joachim's children were discontinued at the start of 2023.

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The Danish Royal House announced Queen Margrethe's decision to change the titles of her younger son's kids in 2022, explaining that she wished "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.”

Queen Margrethe later explained to Weekendavisen that it was better that she was the one to make the change, rather than her firstborn Frederik, who became King in 2024. “For me, it has been important that it should not be Frederik’s lot to make such a decision,” she said via Billed Bladet (translated to English). “It was better that it was me.”

Frederik and Joachim's mother added, “Because then it is the old woman who has decided it."