The Danish royal family has released two new portraits to mark Countess Athena’s 12th birthday.
The young royal wore a radiant smile while enjoying the snow in Washington DC, where she lives with her parents, Prince Joachim, 54, Princess Marie, 47, and her older brother, Count Henrik, 14.
In the photos shared, the countess sheltered herself against the cold with a light padded coat.
The photographs were published on the Danish royal family page. instagram today to celebrate Athena’s birthday and were captured by her mother, Princess Mary.
She opted for a chic winter outfit in her new portraits, pairing a £250 North Face insulated hooded parka with a cream knit turtleneck and a pair of relaxed blue jeans.
Countess Athena put on a joyous display as she posed for cameras outside her home in Washington DC.
In the first portrait, shared today by the Danish family, the royal offers a charming smile as she looks into the camera.
The second image showed the 12-year-old sweetly kneeling down to pet her dog.
On Instagram, the family captioned the images: ‘Her Excellency Countess Athena has a birthday and today she turns 12.
‘In honor of the birthday, the Countess’ mother, HRH Princess Mary, photographed her daughter at the family home in Washington DC.’
Athena is the youngest granddaughter of Queen Margaret and the late Prince Henrik, and was born on January 24, 2012 at Copenhagen University Hospital.
He has three older brothers: Prince Nikolai, 21, and Prince Felix, 18, from his father’s first marriage to Countess Alexandra and Prince Henrik.
It comes after Athena’s father admitted she was being bullied at school following Queen Margaret’s decision to strip her four children of their royal titles.
Last year, Prince Nikolai, 23, Prince Felix, 20, Prince Henrik, 13, and Princess Athena, 10, became Counts and Countesses, and will be known as Their Excellencies, instead of His Royal Highness.
The countess, who was born Princess Athena of Denmark, donned a £250 North Face insulated parka as she posed with her dog.
“They come and say (to Athena): Are you the one who is no longer a princess?” Princess Mary told a Danish media outlet. B.T..
He said his children were put in the public spotlight and he feels the need to defend them, especially now that his youngest son is being made fun of.
‘The children were put on public display. With very little notice. This means that we, as parents, have not had time to prepare them for the change and people’s reactions,” she added.
Joachim has criticized the measure, saying that it has “punished” his children, in addition to stating that he had only been told the news five days before it was made public, despite the Royal Family insisting that the decision “has taken a long time.” a lot to come”. ‘.
Although they are no longer considered official members of the Danish royal family, they have maintained their positions in the line of succession following the shocking abdication of Queen Margrethe.
Joachim’s son Count Nikolai, 24, is sixth in line to the throne even though he is no longer a royal.
Nikolai is a model with a large number of followers on Instagram.
His siblings Felix, 21, Henrik, 14, and Athena, 11, are respectively seventh, eighth and ninth in the line of succession.
The Danish head of state shocked the nation and many royal watchers around the world when she used her annual New Year’s Eve speech to announce live on television that she would step down as queen after 52 years.
In her speech, the 83-year-old said she had taken stock after undergoing back surgery last year and had decided it was time to “leave the responsibility to the next generation,” meaning her eldest son. , Crown Prince Frederik.