Countess Athena of Monzepat turned 12 on Jan. 24, and the Danish Royal House released new photos of the birthday girl.Photo:The Royal House of Denmark/Instagram
The Royal House of Denmark/Instagram
Countess Athenaof Monpezat is turning 12!
The only daughter ofPrince JoachimandPrincess Marieof Denmark celebrated her birthday on Wednesday, and the Danish Royal House posted a tribute with two new photos of the birthday girl.
“Her Excellency Countess Athena has a birthday and turns 12 today 🇩🇰,” the court captioned theInstagrampost. “On the occasion of the birthday, the Countess’s mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Marie, photographed the daughter at the family’s home in Washington D.C.”
Queen Margrethe’s second son and his wife relocated to the United States last year with two of their children as he started a new job at the Danish Embassy under the Ministry of Defense.
The outdoor snaps showed Countess Athena in a snowy yard, bundled up in a white puffer coat with a turtleneck and jeans. The young countess smiled solo in the first shot and kneeled to pet the family dog Cerise in the second image.
Princess Marie, 47, isn’t the only royal mom to take photos of her kids for official circulation —Kate MiddletonandCrown Princess Victoriaof Sweden often do the same. Princess Kate has described herself as an “enthusiastic amateur photographer” andhopped behind the camerafor many ofPrince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis’ birthday portraits. Crown Princess Victoriarecently tooka picture of her childrenPrincess EstelleandPrince Oscaron Lucia Morning before Christmas.
Countess Athena of Monzepat turned 12 on Jan. 24, and the Danish Royal House released new photos of the birthday girl.The Royal House of Denmark/Instagram
Later on Countess Athena’s birthday,Count Nikolaiof Monpezat celebrated his younger sister with a collage on his Instagram Story.
Prince Joachim is a father of four and shares his two eldest sons, Count Nikolai and Count Felix, 21, with his first wife, Alexandra. They divorced in 2005 after a decade of marriage, and Joachim remarried in 2008. He and Marie went on to welcome a son and daughter — Count Henrik, 13, and Countess Athena.
Last weekend was historic for the Danish royal family, as matriarchQueen Margretheabdicatedon the 52nd anniversary of her accession and her eldest son becameKing Frederik X. The change of reign was a much lower-key affair than the coronation ofKing Charlesin May 2023, and Countess Athena’s father Prince Joachim made asolo tripto Denmark for the special occasion.
The arrangement was expected, as a spokesperson toldHello!that Prince Joachim, 54, would attend without his wife and kids.
Count Nikolai’s Instagram Story on Jan. 24.Count Nikolai of Denmark/Instagram
Count Nikolai of Denmark/Instagram
Prince Joachim kept a low profile on Queen Margrethe’s Jan. 14 abdication day, where she signed a declaration of her abdication during a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace to make her decision to step down as monarch official. Queen Margrethe, 83,shocked Denmarkwhen she announced the plans on Dec. 31 and made history as the first Danish monarch to voluntarily step down from the throne in nearly 900 years, per Danish Royal Househistory.
The following day, Prince Joachim joined fellow members of the royal family at the Danish Parliament’s succession celebration, where he hugged his older brother as they made their way in.
King Frederik and Prince Joachim attend Danish Parliament on Jan. 15, 2024.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
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- Queen Margretherewrote historyin January 2023 when she stripped Prince Joachim’s four children of their royal titles in a decision she later described as “necessary future-proofing of the monarchy.” The siblings had previously been styled as prince or princess and known as “His/Her Highness” since birth.
Prince Joachim of Denmark, Princess Marie of Denmark, Count Nikolai of Denmark, Count Felix of Denmark, Count Henrik of Denmark and Countess Athena of Denmark at the balcony of Amalienborg Palace on Queen Margrethe’s birthday in April 2023.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
source: people.com
