Prince Joachim of Denmark (Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian; born 7 June 1969) is the second and younger son of Margrethe II and the late Prince Henrik.
Joachim is sixth in the line of succession to the Danish throne.
Early life[]
Birth[]
Joachim was born on 7 June 1969 at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark.
He has one older sibling, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark (1968).
Christening[]
- Main article: Christening of Prince Joachim of Denmark
Joachim was christened on 15 July 1969 in Aarhus Cathedral in Aarhus. He was the first member of the royal family to have been christened outside of Copenhagen. Per Danish tradition, his names were announced for the first time as Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian.
Joachim's godparents are Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Jean Baptiste de Laborde de Monpezat, Harald V of Norway (then Crown Prince), and Princess Christina, Mrs. Magnuson (then Princess of Sweden).
Confirmation[]
- Main article: Confirmation of Prince Joachim of Denmark
Joachim was confirmed on 10 June 1982 in the chapel at Fredensborg Palace.
Education[]
Joachim attended school as a private pupil from 1974 until 1976 at Amalienborg and then from 1976 until 1982 at Krebs School in Copenhagen. From 1982 and 1983, he studied at École des Roches, a boarding school in Normandy, France.
In 1986, Joachim graduated from the upper secondary school Øregård Gymnasium in Copenhagen. From 1991 to 1993, he completed his studies in agrarian economics at Den Classenske Agerbrugskole Næsgaard.
In addition to Danish, Joachim also speaks French, English, and German.
Military Career[]
Joachim began his military education in 1987 as a recruit in the Queen's Life Regiment. In 1988, he became a sergeant of the reserve, and a year later, a second lieutenant. From 1989 to 1990, he served as the platoon commander of a tank squadron in the Prince's Life Regiment. In 1990, Joachim became a first lieutenant, and in 1992, a captain.
From 1996 to 2004, Joachim was the commander of a tank squadron in the mobilization force of the Prince's Life Regiment. In 2005, he became a major and staff officer of the Danish Division.
In 2011, Joachim became a lieutenant colonel and served as a liaison officer. In 2015, he became a colonel and special advisor to the chief of Defense for the Danish reserve army.
During the summer of 2019, Joachim was admitted to the highest-ranking military educational program at École Militaire in Paris, France, by invitation from the French Minister of Defense. He graduated 26 June 2020, being the first Danish Officer to complete the two-part special education.
In early June 2020, the Danish Secretary of Defense appointed Joachim to Brigadier General due to his newly acquired educational merits. He was subsequently appointed to Military Attaché at the Royal Danish Embassy in Paris, France for the next three years by the Danish Ministry of Defense. Joachim will commence his new position on 1 September 2020. He maintains his patronages and royal activities when possible.
Public Life[]
Activites[]
Patronages[]
- The Danish Rugby Union (DRU)
- Schackenborg Foundation
Personal Life[]
First Marriage[]
- Engagement
- Main article: Engagement of Prince Joachim of Denmark and Alexandra Manley
- Wedding
- Main article: Wedding of Prince Joachim of Denmark and Alexandra Manley
On 18 November 1995, Joachim married Alexandra Manley in the chapel of Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød.
- Children
Joachim and Alexandra had two sons, Count Nikolai, born 28 August 1999, and Count Felix, born 22 July 2002. After the divorce, they were granted joint custody of their sons.
- Divorce
On 16 September 2004, the couple announced their separation. They divorced on 8 April 2005.
Second Marriage[]
- Engagement
- Main article: Engagement of Prince Joachim of Denmark and Marie Cavallier
On 3 October 2007, the Danish Royal Court announced that Joachim was engaged to Marie Cavallier.
- Wedding
- Main article: Wedding of Prince Joachim of Denmark and Marie Cavallier
The couple's wedding took place on 24 May 2008 at Møgeltønder Church in Møgeltønder.
- Children
Joachim and Marie have two children, Count Henrik, born 4 May 2009, and Countess Athena, born 24 January 2012.
Schackenborg[]
In 1993, Joachim took over the estate of Schackenborg Castle in Møgeltønder. He had been granted the estate in the will of Count Hans Schack in 1978.
Joachim and Alexandra moved into the residence in 1995. They had received 13 million Danish kroner, collected by Danish people as a national wedding gift, for the restoration of the estate. The restoration was completed in 1999. After the couples' divorce in 2005, Alexandra moved with their two sons to Copenhagen, while Joachim remained at Schackenborg.
When Joachim and Marie married in 2008, they moved into Schackenborg and resided there for the following six years. In 2014, the estate was handed over to the Schackenborg Foundation. Joachim, Marie, and their children moved from the castle to Klampenborg until summer 2019.
Interests[]
Joachim enjoys racing and has participated in a classic-car race, part of the GTC-TC championship. He drove a BMW 2002, sharing the ride with Derek Bell.
Health[]
On 24 July 2020, Joachim was admitted to Toulouse University Hospital for a blood clot in his brain. He underwent immediate, successful surgery.[1]
Titles, Styles, & Arms[]
- 7 June 1969 - 29 April 2008: His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark
- 29 April 2008 - present: His Royal Highness Prince Joachim of Denmark, Count of Monpezat
Honours[]
- Orders[2]
Denmark
- Knight of the Order of the Elephant (14 January 1972)
- Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog (16 April 2004)
- Medals[3]
- Denmark
- 50th Anniversary Medal of Queen Ingrid's Arrival to Denmark (15 May 1985)
- 25th Anniversary Medal of Margrethe II and Prince Henrik (10 June 1992)
- Silver Jubilee Medal of Margrethe II (14 January 1997)
- 100th Anniversary Medal of the Birth of Frederick IX (8 March 1999)
- Queen Ingrid's Commemorative Medal (28 March 2001)
- 75th Birthday Medal of Henrik, Prince Consort (11 June 2009)
- 70th Birthday Medal of Margrethe II (16 April 2010)
- Ruby Jubilee Medal of Margrethe II (14 January 2012)
- 75th Birthday Medal of Margrethe II (16 April 2015)
- 50th Anniversary Medal of Margrethe II and Prince Henrik (10 June 2017)
- Prince Henrik's Commemorative Medal (11 June 2018)
- 80th Birthday Medal of Margrethe II (16 April 2020)
- Home Guard Medal of Merit
- Armed Forces Long Service Medal
- Badge of Honor of the Reserve Officers Association of Denmark
- The Nordic Blue Berets Medal of Honour, Gold
- Orders[4]
- Belgium
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
- Brazil
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (5 September 2007)[5]
- Bulgaria
- First Class of the Order of Stara Planina (2006)
- Finland
- Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- France
- Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour
- Germany
- Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
- Greece
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Phoenix (18 May 2009)
- Iceland
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon
- Japan
- Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum
- Jordan
- Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
- Luxembourg
- Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
- Mexico
- Sash of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (8 April 2016)[6]
- Nepal
- First Class of the Order of the Three Divine Powers (13 October 1989)
- Netherlands
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (17 March 2015)
- Norway
- Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav (1991)
- Romania
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
- Sweden
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star
References[]
- ↑ Prince Joachim admitted to hospital (Danish). Kongehuset (25 July 2020).
- ↑ Official list of honours (Danish). Kongehuset.
- ↑ Official list of honours (Danish). Kongehuset.
- ↑ Official list of honours (Danish). Kongehuset.
- ↑ Publication regarding order recipients (Portugese). Jusbrasil.com.br (6 September 2007).
- ↑ Press release regarding the Order of the Aztec Eagle (Spanish) (8 April 2016).