Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian, Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, was born on 7 June 1969. His Royal Highness Prince Joachim is the son of HM Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark (d. 2018). The Prince is included in the order of succession to the Throne and may act as regent when HM The King and HRH The Crown Prince are abroad.
Family
Christening and confirmation
Prince Joachim was christened in the Århus Cathedral on 15 July 1969 and confirmed in Fredensborg Palace Chapel on 10 June 1982.
Marital status
On 24 May 2008, Prince Joachim married Miss Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier, whoin connection with the marriage became HRH Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat.
Children
HE Count Nikolai William Alexander Frederik, born Prince of Denmark on 28 August 1999, HE Count Felix Henrik Valdemar Christian, born Prince of Denmark on 22 July 2002, HE Count Henrik Carl Joachim Alain, born Prince of Denmark on 4 May 2009, and HE Countess Athena Marguerite Françoise Marie, born Princess of Denmark on 24 January 2012.
Residence
Prince Joachim and Princess Marie and the couple’s two children, Count Henrik and Countess Athena, reside in Washington.
Education
Education
Prince Joachim attended Krebs' Skole during the years 1974-1982, from 1974-1976 as aprivate pupil at Amalienborg. Between 1982 and 1983, The Prince was a boarder at École des Roches in Normandy, France.
In 1986, Prince Joachim graduated from the upper secondary school of Øregaard Gymnasium, and in the period 1986-1987, The Prince worked on a farm at Wagga Wagga in Australia. From 1991 to 1993, Prince Joachim completed his studies in agrarian economics at the Classenske Agerbrugskole Næsgaard on the island of Falster.
Business background
In addition to his agricultural background, Prince Joachim worked for the A.P. Møller Maersk Group in Hong Kong and France, respectively, from 1993 to 1995 in order to broaden his business experience. Prince Joachim owns and runs farming and forestry operations. The farming is leased to Schackenborg Fonden.
On 1 November 2015, Prince Joachim began a new position as a special advisor in the Defence in relation to the implementation of the new total force concept, which will strengthen the use of volunteers in the Home Guard and personnel from the reserve.
In September 2020, Prince Joachim started work as the defense attaché at the Danish Embassy in Paris. The position’s duration is three years, with the possibility of extension. With the appointment, Prince Joachim obtains the permanent rank of brigadier general.
Military background
Prince Joachim’s military education began in 1987 when His Royal Highnesss was a recruit in the Queen's Own Regiment. In 1988, Prince Joachim was appointed as a sergeant, and in 1989, The Prince was appointed as a lieutenant of the reserve. After becoming a lieutenant, Prince Joachim served as a Platoon Commander of a tank squadron in the Prince's Own Regiment from 1989 to 1990.
In 1990, Prince Joachim was appointed as a first lieutenant of the reserve and in 1992, after completion of advanced training level I for officers of the reserve (VUT I), came his appointment as a captain of the reserve. From 1996 to 2004, Prince Joachim was the commander of a tank squadron in the mobilization force of the Prince's Own Regiment and, from 2005, was attached to the Danish Division’s staff as a major of the reserve.
Following appointment as a lieutenant colonel of the reserve in 2011, Prince Joachim was designated as the chief of the Liaison Officers Group in Total Defence Region Fyn, Syd and Sønderjylland.
In April 2015, Prince Joachim was appointed as a colonel of the reserve in the Army.
On 1 November 2015, Prince Joachim began a new position as a special advisor in the Defence in relation to the implementation of the new total force concept, which will strengthen the use of volunteers in the Home Guard and personnel from the reserve.
Prince Joachim began France’s highest-ranking military leadership education at École Militaire in Paris in September 2019. The education consists of two parts, which are carried through at Centre des Hautes Études Militaires (CHEM) and Institut des Hautes Études de la Défense Nationale (IHEDN), respectively. The Prince is the first Danish officer to have accomplished the complete education.
In September 2020, Prince Joachim began working as a military attaché at the Danish Embassy in Paris. Thanks to this appointment, Prince Joachim obtained the permanent rank of brigadier general. In 2023, the Prince left Paris to join the Danish Embassy in Washington as a military industry attaché, starting on September 1, 2023.
Language
Prince Joachim’s mother tongue is Danish. In addition, His Royal Highness speaks French, English and German.
Patronages and honorary memberships
The Royal House of Denmark's work in reviewing honorary duties, honorary titles, etc. is not yet completed.
- AQUA Aquarium and Wildlife Park
- CARE Danmark
- Chakoten – Danish Military History Society
- Copenhagen Goodwill Ambassadors
- Danish Museum of Science & Technology
- Danish Veteran Association and Veteran Support
- The Denmark Society
- Danish Heraldry Society
- The Danish String Competition
- The Danish Boys Choir
- The Danish Diabetes Association
- Europa Nostra Danmark
- Fjord&Bælt
- Friends of The Museum of Danish Resistance Foundation
- Grænseforeningen
- Central Organisation for Reserve Personnel in Denmark (HPRD)
- Hærvejsmarchen
- Museum Sønderjylland
- Orders and Medals Society of Denmark
- Schackenborg Foundation
- Training Ship Danmark
- South Jutland Symphony Orchestra
- Young Scientists
- The Wadden Sea Centre
- Aalborg Zoo