Crown Princess Mary of Denmarkis sharing her thoughts on Queen Margrethe’sdecision to strip four grandchildren of their current royal titles— and revealed that her own children may not keep their titles forever.

The Queen’s decision does not change the titles for the four children of Crown Prince Frederik, who is heir to the throne, and Crown Princess Mary.Prince Christian, 16,Princess Isabella, 15, and 11-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine will both continue to be part of the royal house.

Princess Mary spoke out about the news affecting her niece and nephews on Friday when she attended the opening of the 6th International Youth Conference “Re-imagine Youth Mental Health.”

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Princess Mary of Denmark

“I can understand that it is a difficult decision to make and a very difficult decision to receive,” Princess Mary told reporters, according toHello!magazine. “Change can be difficult and can really hurt. But this does not mean that the decision is not the right one.”

While Frederik and Mary’s sonPrince Christianis second in line to the throne behind his father, their other children may not keep their royal titles forever.

“We will also look at our children’s titles when the time comes,” Crown Princess Mary, 50, said. “Today we do not know what the royal house will look like in Christian’s time, or when Christian’s time begins to approach.”

Prince Vincent, Crown Prince Frederik, Princess Isabella, Queen Margrethe, Prince Christian, Princess Josephine and Crown Princess Mary.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty

Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Prince Christian of Denmark, Princess Isabella of Denmark, Princess Josephine of Denmark and Prince Vincent of Denmark during the confirmation of Princess Isabella of Denmark at Fredensborg Palace on April 30, 2022 in Fredensborg, Denmark.

“We are all very sad. It’s never fun to see your children being mistreated like that,” he toldEkstra Bladet. “They find themselves in a situation they do not understand.”

Nikolai and Felix are the sons of Prince Joachim and his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. Prince Joachim got remarried to Princess Marie in 2008, and they later welcomed Henrik and Athena.

Queen Margrethe with Prince Joachim and his family.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty

Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Prince Joachim of Denmark, Princess Marie of Denmark, Prince Nikolai of Denmark, Prince Felix of Denmark, Prince Henrik of Denmark and Princess Athena of Denmark during the confirmation of Princess Isabella of Denmark at on April 30, 2022 in Fredensborg, Denmark.

“My whole family and I are, of course, very sad,” he said. “We are, as my parents have also stated, in shock at this decision and at how quickly it has actually gone.”

Nikolai added, “I am very confused as to why it has to happen like this.”

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Nikolai, who is a model and has walked the runway for brands like Dior, said he was only informed of the decision a few days before the news went public.

“I haven’t counted the days, but it can’t be longer than a little over a week ago,” he said.

Prince Nikolai.Jacopo Raule/Getty

Prince Nikolai of Denmark

The Danish palace also noted that “the Queen’s decision is in line with similar adjustments that other royal houses have made in various ways in recent years.”

Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustafannouncedin October 2019 that the children of his younger two childrenPrincess Madeleine(who is married to Chris O’Neill) andPrince Carl Philip(who is married toPrincess Sofia) would no longer be official members of the royal house. They retained their titles of prince or princess, but the titles became personal meaning any future spouses or children will not have a right to them.

source: people.com