‘Lonely’ Prince Joachim stands behind King Frederik on balcony as brother takes throne

Frederik of Denmark became king on Sunday, but behind the scenes pics of his younger brother revealed a royal rift to rival Will and Harry’s.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark formally abdicated on Sunday, allowing her eldest son, King Frederik X, to ascend the throne with his wife, Queen Mary.

Margrethe’s last words before leaving the kingdom to her son were: “God save the King”.

But it was likely a touchy subject for Frederik’s younger brother, Prince Joachim, who has publicly feuded with the Danish royal family in astonishing ways.

Prince Joachim appeared ever so briefly in the background of his brother's coronation. Picture: Instagram

He and Prince Harry, pictured here in Copenhagen in 2017, have a bit in common. Picture: Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images

Joachim, 54, flew in from the US for the ceremony but declined to bring along his wife or any of his four kids.

Dressed in his military uniform, he did not appear on the balcony as Frederik, Mary and their own children debuted their new titles.

Instead, Joachim was spotted behind the scenes.

A video taken moments before Frederik addressed his new kingdom showed the newly appointed king pass by his brother and step out onto the balcony.

Joachim also looked on from the shadows as Frederik and Mary shared a quick kiss, with Frederik appearing to tear up as he waved to the crowd — though that could have been the freezing temperatures.

Prince Joachim can been seen behind Mary as she kisses Frederik on the balcony after becoming King and Queen. Picture: Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP

A feud to rival Will and Harry’s

As reported by news.com.au entertainment reporter Bronte Coy, the Danish brothers’ spat is remarkably similar to that of Prince William and Harry’s — right down to a public falling out, intense media scrutiny and an abrupt relocation to the US.

There had been suggestions of tension prior to 2022, but it came to a head publicly amid the fallout from Margrethe’s controversial decision to strip Joachim’s four children — her grandchildren — of their titles as part of a “necessary future-proofing of the monarchy”.

The kids are now known as the counts and countess of Monpezat, rather than as princes and princesses.

Prince Harry and his brother William famously fell out after he married his wife Meghan Markle. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Joachim issued an emotional statement, describing his mother’s decree as a “punishment”.

“My kids don’t know which leg to stand on. What they should believe. Why should their identity be removed? Why must they be punished in that way?” he said.

Just a few months later, Margrethe appeared to confirm the rift in an extraordinarily candid New Year’s Eve address to the country.

“I always feel great love for my entire family,” she explained.

“Difficulties and misunderstandings may arise in any family, also in mine. The whole country has witnessed that. That the relationship with Prince Joachim and Princess Marie has run into difficulties makes me sad.

“We have now had a quieter period and time for reflection, and I am sure that our family can embark on the new year together with confidence, understanding and new courage.”

Prince Joachim travelled to Denmark alone for his brother’s coronation without his wife Marie and their four children. Picture: Luca Teuchmann/Getty Images

Joachim and wife ‘forced’ to relocate

The controversial title decision came after Joachim and Marie had previously complained they had been “forced” to relocate to Paris in 2019 as the prince took on a role within the highest-ranking military educational program at École Militaire.

Marie bluntly told Danish journalist Jacob Heineljust months later that staying in France after her husband had completed his studies was not their choice.

Prince Joachim of Denmark claims he was forced to relocate to France with his family. Picture: Ian Gavan/Getty Images

Lifting the lid on the unexpected exchange in an interview with The Daily Beast, Heinel explained that the princess had “cut in” while her husband was speaking about the move, declaring: “You know, it wasn’t our choice’.”

“I said, ‘Excuse me your royal highness, you have to elaborate what you mean by saying it wasn’t your choice to move to France,’ and she said, ‘Well, I’m not going to elaborate but it wasn’t our choice. I want people to know that it wasn’t our choice.’”

The journalist then elaborated on the reasons for their move, revealing that “it became apparent that the town was not big enough for both families”, in an apparent reference to Frederik, Australian-born Mary and their four children.

Frederik and Mary attend a session of the Folketing, the Danish parliament on Monday for the first time as king and queen. Picture: Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP

After the decision was made to strip Joachim’s kids of their royal titles, the prince and Marie went a step further and left Europe altogether, setting up their family home in Washington D.C., where the prince serves as the defence industry attache at the Danish Embassy.

In 2021, Joachim spoke openly about his struggles as a “spare” for the first time in an interview with French magazine, Point de Vue.

“Between us, it is more complicated. The Crown Prince simply has to follow the course of events,” he said.

“However, nothing is defined for the second born son and the person’s wife, neither in writing nor in speech. My father became acquainted with the same dissatisfaction and never managed to get his place in the royal family pinned down.”

Joachim continued: “But it is not always easy. I experience the same dissatisfaction as my father. We have to find out for ourselves, while staying within the role of number two in the row.”