‘It’s still quite a touchy subject’: Princess Mary’s nephew on stripped royal title

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The Danish nephew of Tasmanian-born Princess Mary has broken his silence on being stripped of his royal title and revealed his aunt’s advice for visiting Australia.

Princess Mary has toured around Sydney on a bicycle before leading discussions on Australia’s transition to renewable energy on Friday.

The Princess of Denmark was overheard saying: “No one looks good in a helmet, but safety first” before she cycled from Hyde Park to Circular Quay.

The Tasmanian-born Princess has described Sydney as a “sustainable city” as she is set to head a delegation discussing Australia’s green transition following her recent visit to Vanuatu.

Nikolai is the eldest son of Prince Joachim, the younger brother of Crown Prince Frederik and brother-in-law to Tasmanian-born Princess Mary.

The Count is currently studying for a semester at the University of Technology Sydney and sat down with a local 9Honey journalist in a rare interview.

During the chat, Nikolai talked about his closeness to his aunt Mary and how she gave him recommendations for visiting Australia, including wearing sunscreen.

“I wouldn’t say she influenced me, but once I told her she was very happy for me, definitely. Gave me all the good recommendations, introduced me to her friends, family here,” he said in the interview.

“(Mary) wrote me a short itinerary of what to do and what to see, Palm Beach she recommended.”

Nikolai also discussed his father Joachim and stepmother Princess Marie, who have recently relocated to the United States following the controversy over Margrethe’s decision to strip Joachim’s children of their royal titles.

“(My family) have been living in Paris for the past four years so I think we’ve grown sort of used to this abroad family relationship, although it’s much further away now,” he said. 

Queen Margrethe later issued an apology for causing her family any distress and admitted she “underestimated” how much they would “feel affected” after Joachim and Marie publicly criticised the Monarch in the Danish media.

Nikolai with his family on the balcony of the royal palace in Copenhagen. Picture: Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images

Margrethe justified the decision by calling the move “a necessary safeguard for the future of the monarchy”, which was supported by both Mary and Frederik. 

Nikolai admitted the family dispute over the royal titles was still a “touchy subject” but said the move did not change him as a person. 

“It’s still quite a touchy subject but, I mean, I am the same person as I’ve always been,” he said.

“It’s more just a formality or sort of change of belonging, in a way.

“I am the same person I have always been, it’s weird having to settle for another surname now.

“Or another… not surname, another a call sign.”

Princess Mary gave her nephew some travel tips for Australia. Picture: Ole Jensen/Getty Images

The 24-year-old is now forging his own career outside of royal life, and balances his studies in business with a modelling career.  

“I guess I’ve always sort of done what I wanted but in respect to everyone around me, especially my heritage, (I’ve) always asked for permission, done what’s been said and expected of me,” he said. 

“I am not rebellious at all – in my own opinion (but) you know, times change all the time and I like to keep up.”

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