Queen Margrethe of Denmark issues public apology after stripping grandchildren of their royal titles

• Queen Margrethe II has issued an apology after removing her grandchildren's titles.
• The Danish monarch said she made the decision to future-proof the monarchy.

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark has issued a public statement in response to the criticism she has faced for revoking four of her grandchildren's royal titles.

The monarch, 82, announced on Wednesday that the children of her youngest son, Prince Joachim of Denmark, would no longer be styled as "prince" or "princess" from 2023.

The decision affects Prince Nikolai, 23; Prince Felix, 10; Prince Henrik, 13; and Princess Athena, 10. The children will still be able to use the titles of counts and countess of Monpezat, according to the original statement on the royal website.

The Danish royals had a strong reaction to the decision. On Thursday, Prince Joachim shared his frustration in a statement sent to Danish outlet Ekstra Bladet.

"We are all very sad. It's never fun to see your children being mistreated like that," he told the outlet. "They themselves find themselves in a situation they do not understand."

Meanwhile, Nikolai told the same outlet that he was "in shock" regarding the decision and "very confused as to why it has to happen like this," according to an English translation shared by the New York Post.

Writing on the Danish royal family's website on Monday, Margrethe said: "In recent days, there have been strong reactions to my decision about the future use of titles for Prince Joachim's four children. That affects me, of course."

"My decision has been a long time coming. With my 50 years on the throne, it is natural both to look back and to look ahead. It is my duty and my desire as Queen to ensure that the monarchy always shapes itself in keeping with the times. Sometimes, this means that difficult decisions must be made, and it will always be difficult to find the right moment," she added.

She went on to say that royal titles involve commitment and duties that will lie with fewer members of the royal family in the future, which she views as essential to "future-proofing" the monarchy.

"I have made my decision as Queen, mother and grandmother, but, as a mother and grandmother, I have underestimated the extent to which much my younger son and his family feel affected. That makes a big impression, and for that I am sorry," Margrethe said, adding that her children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren are "my great joy and pride."

"I now hope that we as a family can find the peace to find our way through this situation," she added.

Representatives for Queen Margrethe and Prince Joachim did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.