“Decision in My Name”
Graf Nikolai is the nephew of Danish King Frederik.
© IMAGO/ABACAPRESS/Bertrand-Hillion Marie-Paola
In a new documentary, Graf Nikolai shares his personal reflections on the loss of his royal title. The grandson of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe discusses pain, duty, and his new beginning away from the palace.
In the documentary, the 26-year-old notes how profoundly the title loss has changed his life: “Both my life and the role I had to fulfill have changed. A decision was made in my name, and that’s never pleasant.” Despite this, he strives to find something positive in the change: “But like everything else in life, I try to make the best of things and view them in a positive light. Now I’m in the process of finding my own way in life, with the role and conditions I currently have.”
Graf Nikolai Reflects on Childhood with Royal Pressure
The TV show also provides rare glimpses into Nikolai’s upbringing within a European monarchy. The son of Prince Joachim and his ex-wife Countess Alexandra, he recalls the strict behavioral rules of his youth: “I vividly remember the expectations of how to behave outside the four walls of the house.” A particularly memorable experience on his ninth birthday remains with him – he did not understand why he had to wear a shirt, blazer, and tie to the circus while all the other children showed up in hoodies. His mother’s explanation was curt: “You must.” Nikolai comments: “So, I had to comply.”
When the title revocation was announced, the mood behind palace walls was reportedly not good. Prince Joachim publicly expressed shock, stating he could not bear to see his children suffer injustice. Nikolai himself reached out to the Danish newspaper “Ekstra Bladet” in September 2022, saying: “My entire family and I are, of course, very sad. We are, like my parents, shocked by this decision and the speed with which it was made.” It was particularly burdensome for him to have been informed only a few days prior. Since then, Nikolai and his siblings Felix, Henrik, and Athena carry the title of Count or Countess of Monpezat.
New Path: Job, Film, and Modeling Career
The 26-year-old has now charted his own professional course. Nikolai studied Economics and Business Administration at the Copenhagen Business School. At the start of the year, he also took a permanent position at Dansk Industri, Denmark’s largest employer and industry association. Additionally, he is making his acting debut with a role in the Swedish thriller “Doktor Glas.” He does not intend to leave the modeling industry behind either; he has been signed with Scoop Models since 2018. “I would like to rebuild my modeling career,” he explains in the documentary.
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Despite the changes, Graf Nikolai seems to be finding peace with his new role. In 2023, during a stay in Sydney, he told media outlet “9Honey”: “I think I will be freer in the future. But I have never felt restricted before.” In the TV-2 documentary, he also gives an honest confession about his homeland: “I will always be a representative of Denmark, the Danish people, and Danish values, wherever and in whatever context.” (red)
