Greece has a way of pulling European royals back to its shores every summer, and this year it's not just the Greek royal family filling their feeds with Aegean sunsets. Nikolai of Denmark, 26, the eldest son of Prince Joachim, has just wrapped up a Hellenic getaway anchored by the two people closest to him.
© @nikolaitildanmarkThe count — who moonlights as a fashion model — recently posted his summer photo album, chasing sunshine even as Denmark sweltered through an unusually hot stretch back home.
"Reunion in Greece, hope you're enjoying summer!" he wrote. He paired the message alongside a scroll of postcard-perfect shots featuring dramatic coastlines, decadent desserts, golden-hour skies, and boat rides.
© @nikolaitildanmarkHe wasn't traveling solo. His brother, Prince Felix, who turned 24 on July 22, joined him. The two share a tight bond. Rounding out the trip was Nikolai's longtime girlfriend, Benedikte Thoustrup, making it a party of three who looked every bit like seasoned travel companions.
Where are the brothers heading next?
Notably absent from the photos were other members of the family, fueling speculation that the brothers may next head to France, to the Château de Cayx.
Queen Margrethe and her late husband, Prince Henrik, bought the estate in 1974; it has served as the Danish royal family's summer residence ever since. Tucked into the Lot region, the château isn't just a holiday house — its vineyards produce AOC Cahors wines that regularly turn up at official Danish royal banquets and state dinners.
The Greek trip is really a snapshot of how well the brothers fit together, and of how seamlessly Benedikte has folded into that dynamic after several years with Nikolai. The photos show Nikolai looking relaxed and unguarded, fully in vacation mode.
The two brothers don't share much in temperament, but they've always had each other's backs. That contrast came through clearly in the documentary Nikolai, where Felix — never one to chase the spotlight — was candid about steering clear of his brother's career path. "I prefer to stay a little more low-key. Nikolai is very good at what he does as a model. I have to admit that's not exactly my thing," he said.
"I really admire his ability to be so outgoing all the time. I can't imagine what it must take to always be 'on.' I have deep respect for what he does — the responsibility he takes on, and he carries it off beautifully."
© SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett
