Countess Athena of Denmark
Credit: Zahra Khadir
NEED TO KNOW
Countess Athena of Monpezat was confirmed at Georgetown Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., over the weekend
Athena, 14, is the youngest child of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie and 10th in line to the Danish throne
She and her family moved to the U.S. in 2023 but will return to Denmark in 2027
Countess Athena of Monpezat celebrated a milestone moment surrounded by family.
The only daughter of Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark, 14, was confirmed at Georgetown Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, May 2, according to an Instagram post shared by the Danish Royal Family.
“Congratulations to Her Excellency,” the Danish Royal Family wrote in the caption, alongside several photos from the special day.
In one sweet shot, Athena grins as she is held horizontally in the arms of her three brothers: Count Nikolai, 26, and Count Felix, 23, from Prince Joachim’s first marriage, and Count Henrik, 16, whom Joachim shares with Princess Marie.
Countess Athena, 14, poses with her mom Princess Marie, far left, her brother Henrick, middle left, and her dad Joachim as they celebrate her confirmation at church on May 2
Credit: Zahra Khadir
The teen royal also posed separately with Henrick, as well as her parents, as they marked the special occasion.
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Athena is the youngest of Joachim and Marie’s children, and is 10th in the line of succession to the Danish throne.
At the beginning of 2023, when she was 10, Athena was stripped of her title as princess by her grandmother, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, who became the country’s longest-reigning monarch later that year.
In a statement, the palace said the Queen wanted to “create the framework for the four grandchildren to be able to shape their own lives to a much greater extent without being limited by the special considerations and duties that a formal affiliation with the Royal House of Denmark as an institution involves.”
Athena later moved to the U.S. with her mother, father and brother. But in an interview with Danish outlet BILLED-BLADET on Feb. 5, 2026, Princess Marie revealed that the family will move back to Denmark after Joachim’s contract as defense industry attaché expires in August 2027.
“The most important thing for me and my family are the years that lie ahead of us. Right now, as you know, we are staying in the U.S. for another year and a half. Then the children can finish their schooling,” she said at the time.
The royal mom also said she and her family “are really looking forward to” returning home. “It has been really exciting to be out of the country and be able to support Denmark abroad,” she said.
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