Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark looked all smiles yesterday as they took their children – Count Henrik and Countess Athena – to an aquarium.
The family paid a visit to the Kattegatcentret aquarium in Grenå, Denmark on Tuesday, to mark the attraction’s 30th anniversary.
The European royals looked delighted to enjoy some family time in their homeland, ahead of their relocation later this year to Washington DC.
Prince Joachim, 53, is set to become the Defence Industry Attaché at the Embassy of Denmark in the US city, sparking a new chapter for the family following Queen Margrethe’s decision to strip his four children of their Prince and Princesses titles.
During their outing to the aquarium, Princess Marie, 47, looked effortlessly elegant for the day trip, opting for a chic black turtleneck and a sage green trouser suit with tapered trousers.
The mother-of-two wore her chestnut tresses down in loose waves and sported a natural make-up look, with a subtle smokey eye and dusky pink lipstick.
Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark were all smiles as they took their children – Count Henrik and Countess Athena – to spend the day with penguins and other sea life at the Kattegatcentret aquarium in Grenå, Denmark
The family were greeted by dozens of well-wishers waving the Danish flag as they took time to observe the sea creatures in huge tanks, and were even pictured feeding some penguins.
In another photograph, they donned aprons and gloves to poke and prod what appeared to be a squid.
Prince Joachim, 53, looked relaxed, wearing a simple black suit worn over a checkered shirt. His son Henrik, 13, channelled his father with an equally laid-back look as he sported red trousers, a blue jumper and a collared button-down.
Meanwhile his little sister looked adorable and ready for adventure in khaki cargos, Converse keds and a beige turtleneck.
When it was time to frolic with the penguins, the whole family swapped their chic jackets out for blue puffers, and their smart shoes for white wellies.
Joachim and Marie grinned as they watched their children excitedly handing the animals their fish.
And it was time for yet another outfit change as the family also enjoyed getting some lab gear on while aquarium staff presented them with a close-up look of sea creatures.
The family was visiting the Kattegatcentret aquarium in Grenå, Denmark which was celebrating its 30th anniversary
In another shot, the family donned aprons and gloves to poke and prod what appeared to be a squid
The European royals looked delighted to observe creatures in huge tanks and were even pictured feeding some penguins
The family enjoyed a jam-packed day of activities as they visited the aquarium for its 30th anniversary
It comes as the Royal Family of Denmark put on a united front for Queen Margrethe’s 83rd birthday last month.
Queen Margrethe – who underwent back surgery in March – was all smiles as she waved to crowds of wellwishers from a balcony at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen.
The mother-of-two cut an elegant figure in a matching powder blue midi skirt, high-neck top and jacket.
The Danish Queen – whose half-century reign makes her Europe’s longest-serving monarch – swept her hair back into her trademark and bun and wore a set of blue diamond earrings.
She added a pop of colour to her outfit with some vibrant red nail polish but otherwise wore minimal makeup.
When it was time to frolic with the penguins, the whole family swapped their chic jackets for blue puffers, and their smart shoes for white wellies
Joachim and Marie grinned as they watched their children excitedly handing the animals their fish
Joachim, Marie and their children were excited to join in with the penguin’s feeding time at the aquarium
The royals scooped fish out of a bucket as the penguins approached them during a visit to the aquarium
As she stepped out on the balcony, Margrethe was pictured without a walking stick – having previously been spotted with one at Fredensborg Castle.
The monarch was also joined by her son Frederik, Crown Prince and his wife Princess Mary and their four children – Prince Christian, 17, Princess Isabella, 15 and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, 12.
However, Joachim and his children were also in attendance – with the full family appearing on the balcony later in the afternoon.
It was a tumultuous autumn for the Danish Royal Family after the monarch stripped her younger son Joachim’s four children of their prince and princess titles – a shocking move which he publicly spoke out against.
She has said the decision was intended to allow Nikolai, 23, Felix, 20 – born from Joachim’s first marriage – and Henrik and Athena to live normal lives without royal obligations.
Aquarium staff got the family in a lab to tell them all about sea life – showing what looked to be a dissection of a squid to the group
Joachim and Marie helped their children get into their aprons as they sat down for an educational lab session
The family looked equal parts fascinated and horrified as aquarium staff showed them the body of a squid
Instead of being Princes and Princesses, they are Counts and Countess and referred to as Their Excellencies – a change which is now reflected on the household’s website.
At the time, Joachim publicly spoke out against his mother’s decision – claiming that his children had been ‘harmed’ in the process.
Later this year, the 53-year-old royal, who is sixth in line to the Danish throne, will relocate to Washington DC with his family to become defence industry attaché at the Embassy of Denmark.
In 2022, a split arose between Joachim and the Danish royal house when Queen Margrethe decided that his four children should lose their titles as prince and princess.
Denmark’s popular long-serving monarch later apologised for upsetting members of her family with the decision – with Joachim publicly expressing his frustration, but she has refused to change her mind.
The official reason was to allow the children to live more normal lives, and follows similar moves by other royal families in Europe, including the Windsors, to slim down their monarchies, the palace said.
But Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg, Joachim’s first wife and mother of his two older children, said at the time: ‘We are all confused by the decision.
‘We are saddened and in shock. This comes like a bolt from the blue. The children feel ostracized.
‘They cannot understand why their identity is being taken away from them.’
And Joachim himself added in an interview with Danish news outlet Ekstra Bladet that: ‘We are all very sad. It’s never fun to see your children being harmed. They have been put in a situation they do not understand.’
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