Count Nikolai of Denmark says he will ‘still be there’ for his cousin and future king Prince Christian, despite moving to Australia after being stripped of his HRH title

Count Nikolai of Monpezat has revealed he is excited to ‘chart his own course’ after being stripped of his royal title last year – but will ‘still be there’ for his close cousin and future king, Prince Christian.

The royal, 24, opened up about what the future holds in an interview after moving to Australia this summer Wish magazine.

He traveled Down Under to study for a semester at the University of Technology Sydney, accompanied by his glamorous designer girlfriend Benedkeek Thoustrup.

But despite the family tensions last year – when Queen Margrethe stripped Prince Joachim’s four children of their prince and princess titles – it appears Nikolai harbors no bitterness towards his grandmother.

The count told the newspaper that he is “blessed to be in a position” where he can determine his own path and expressed his fondness for the future king: Prince Christian, who had just turned 18.

It’s a far cry from members of the British royal family who were left aloof after Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from their duties as senior royals and moved to California.

Although Nikolai didn’t attend his cousin’s glitzy party last month, wanting to catch some waves in Sydney instead, he posted a heartfelt birthday post on Instagram.

Sharing a sweet photo of the pair (both fifth cousins ​​of Prince William and Harry) from 13 years ago – arm-wrestling during a performance on a palace balcony – he wrote: ‘Funny how time flies… Happy 18th Christian! I hope everyone celebrates you the way you deserve.”

In the interview, he also spoke fondly of his “Aussie Aunt” Crown Princess Mary, who has filled his iPhone with a host of close friends “in case of emergency.”

The count added that she also shared a list of recommendations to enjoy her homeland, warning him to apply SPF 50. Nikolai – who is also a model – is still seventh in line for the throne.

He told it too Wish how his style has changed since moving to Australia. “I like the mullet and the mustache,” he said.

“They’re really cool and I love how expressive young guys are here. Their style is so relaxed and casual. I like that sometimes they walk around barefoot – not that I would ever do that – or just in their thongs.”

He explained that he had a very “conservative clothing style” growing up, but was “keen to explore more of it.”

But despite the tensions in the family last year – when Queen Margrethe stripped Prince Joachim’s four children of their prince and princess titles – it appears that Nikolai harbors no bitterness. Nikolai pictured in September

Although Nikolai didn’t attend his cousin’s glitzy party last month, wanting to catch some waves in Sydney instead, he posted a heartfelt birthday post on Instagram

Nikolai and his girlfriend Benedkeek live together in Copenhagen, but moved to Sydney to study from August 1 to November 30.

In March, he launched a new Instagram account to promote his modeling career after his grandmother stripped him of his ‘HRH’ status.

It’s been a tumultuous year for the Danish royal family after the monarch controversially took the title from Prince Joachim’s eldest son, as well as the titles of prince and princess from his younger children Athena, 11, Prince Felix, 20, and Prince Henrik. 13.

They are now Earls and Countess and are referred to as Their Excellencies – and in January this year the Danish Royal Family updated their website to reflect the new status.

The Queen emphasized that this move will be “good for them in their future” and will allow the children – who have retained their position in the line of succession – to “shape their own lives without being limited by the special considerations and duties’ that a formal government entails. implies affiliation with the Danish royal family.

After his grandmother’s decision to strip him and his siblings of their titles “for their own good,” Count Nikolai said he was sad, shocked and confused.

Pictured from left to right: Nikolai, Princess Marie, Countess Athena, Count Henrik, Prince Joachim and Count Felix after Count Henrik’s confirmation in Frederikskirke in May

Nikolai traveled Down Under to study for a semester at the University of Technology Sydney, accompanied by his glamorous designer girlfriend Benedkeek Thoustrup. Both pictured last year

Pictured: Danish Crown Prince Frederik, Princess Isabella, Prince Christian, Crown Princess Mary and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at Prince Christian’s 18th birthday last month

‘My whole family and I are of course very sad. “We are, as my parents have also stated, shocked by this decision and by how quickly it happened,” he told the Danish newspaper Extrabladet.

“I’m very confused why this has to happen like this,” he told reporters outside the Copenhagen apartment where he lives with his girlfriend.

Countess Alexandra, mother of Count Nikolai and Count Felix, was also “very sad” and “shocked” by the decision.

“She can’t believe why and why now, because there is no good reason,” Helle von Wildenrath Løvgreen, Countess Alexandra’s press secretary, told me. CNN.

‘They would lose their titles anyway if they got married one day. Her sons are young men, so maybe they will get married in the near future, so why not wait until that day, so that the titles would disappear on some happy day?’

Prince Joachim told it Ekstra Bladet that his children were ‘hurt’ by the decision – and claimed he had only a few days to break the news to them before the announcement was made publicly.

Prince Joachim, brother of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, is now married to Princess Marie of Denmark.