‘I’M NO PRINCE HARRY!’
The Dane won’t be ditching his royal ties
Royal commentators have long drawn parallels between Prince Harry and Princess Mary’s brother-in-law Prince Joachim of Denmark. They’re both the younger of two brothers, and far down the line of succession thanks to their older siblings Prince William and Prince Frederik having several children.
They’re also quite controversial for royals – Harry married a divorcee, Suits star Meghan Markle, while Joachim divorced first wife Alexandra, with whom he has two children, and married again, having two more kids with his second wife Princess Marie.
SIBLING RIVALRY
More recently, like Harry, who left England for a new life with his wife in the US, Joachim has left Denmark and relocated to Paris.
What’s more, while Harry and William were always close until Meghan came along, there has
famously been ongoing tension between Frederik and Joachim ever since they were young, with Joachim said to be jealous of his older brother and upset he won’t take the throne.
So, after Harry’s explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in early March, royal insiders started to wonder whether it had raised questions for Joachim about his own dedication to the palace and concerns over being cut off financially for leaving his country.
TOO WISE TO LET GO
But a royal insider tells Woman’s Day the 51-yearold prince would never take the same drastic steps as Harry, 36, and is keen to prove he is dedicated to his mother, Queen Margrethe, 80, and the people of Denmark. “Joachim is very loyal to the royal house,” our Danish insider explains in an exclusive chat with Woman’s Day. “He would never think about leaving the royal circle – he has too much respect for his mother, the Queen, to do so. Also, his interest in the history of Danish kings is huge. He just wouldn’t leave the royal life.”
The insider adds Joachim is also “too wise to let go of his title”.
However, the source also admits that life as a Danish royal is much more down-toearth than it is for an English prince, and Joachim and wife Marie, 45, enjoy plenty of freedom in France.
“In Paris the attention for them isn´t as huge as in Denmark,” reveals the insider. “They can easily take a stroll and relax in the street.”
While Harry says the royal family cut him off financially in 2020, leaving him to rely on the inheritance left by his late mother Princess Diana, the royal insider claims the Danish coffers will never be closed off to Joachim – no matter where he lives.
According to our source, Joachim receives an entitlement of $793,000 a year, which began in 1995 when he married his first wife Alexandra.
“Normally he would not be able to get the money, with him out of the country,” says the insider.
“But he continues to have responsibilities when he’s in Denmark so it was decided he could still get money.”
It’s a perk the prince doesn’t take for granted. “Joachim is the last royal to be a sibling to the future king or queen and receive money of his own,” our royal expert explains. “The same won’t be afforded to Fred and Mary’s younger kids, Princesses Isabella and Josephine, and Prince Vincent. Joachim has been fortunate and
I think he knows that.”
‘Joachim is very loyal to the royal house’