Count Nikolai and Count Felix of Monpezat, the elder sons of Prince Joachim, are the latest royals to fall for Greece's summer pull. The brothers traded royal duty for island time this year, and the resulting photo album, which has been carefully curated and shared with their followers, reads like a love letter to the Mediterranean.
© IDA MARIE ODGAARDTheir mother, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, set the tone with a single caption: "Greece in the golden hour…"
Nikolai, 26, whose modeling career has taken him across the world's biggest runways, shared his own version of the same post. "Reunion in Greece, hope you're all enjoying the summer!" he captioned it.
A family affair
The getaway doubled as a milestone celebration. Felix turned 24 on July 22, and the Greek escape gave the brothers and their mother a chance to celebrate it together, away from the spotlight. Rounding out the group was Benedikte Thoustrup, Nikolai's girlfriend, who's been a frequent guest at these family gatherings, attending many of them over their years together.
The scenery: whitewashed villages and Cycladic light
The photos themselves do a lot of the storytelling. Stone terraces open onto an endless blue horizon; cobblestone paths wind past bursts of vivid pink bougainvillea; windmills stand silhouetted against a cloudless sky. Elsewhere, the classic cliffside houses of the Cyclades — with their weathered blue and red wooden balconies hanging just above the waves — make an appearance, as does every other postcard cue of a Greek island summer.
Relaxed elegance, head to toe
Wardrobe-wise, the mood was undone glamour. Countess Alexandra cycled through a run of standout summer looks: a halter-neck midi dress in a blue-and-white tie-dye print, a breezy polka-dot mini in pink, and a flowing burnt-orange piece — each worn with the easy confidence of someone fully at home in the Mediterranean heat.
Nikolai kept things casual in lightweight linen shirts and playful beaded necklaces, while Felix stuck to a more classic register wearing striped polos and neutral tones. Between sightseeing, there was time for Bloody Marys garnished with celery and olives and long, unhurried stops at seaside spots.
© Jacopo RauleTwo brothers, two very different paths
Beyond the scenery, the trip is a reminder of just how close Nikolai and Felix remain, despite living very different lives.
Felix has been candid about staying out of his older brother's spotlight. In the documentary "Nikolai", he said: "I prefer to stay a little more under the radar. Nikolai is very good at what he does as a model. I have to admit that's not exactly my thing."
"I really admire his ability to be so extroverted all the time. I can't imagine what it must be like to always be 'on.' I have deep respect for what he does, for the responsibility he takes on, and he carries it out wonderfully."
What's next: a stop in southern France?
With the Greek chapter now closed and no other royals appearing in the shared images, attention has turned to where the brothers will head next. One of the options is a trip to the south of France and the Château de Cayx, the Monpezat family's traditional summer retreat in the Lot region.
Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik bought the estate in 1974, and it remains best known today as the home of the royal family's AOC Cahors wine, a fixture at Danish state dinners.
© Julian Parker
