Countess Athena of Denmark dresses warmly as she poses with her dog for her 12th birthday in snowy Washington DC

The Danish royal family has released two new portraits to mark Countess Athena's twelfth birthday.

The young royal showed beaming smiles as she enjoyed 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 wrapped herself warm against the cold weather by donning a light puffer coat.

The photos were posted with the Danish royal family Instagram account today to celebrate Athena's birthday and were captured by her mother, Princess Marie.

She opted for winter-chic clothing in her new portraits, teaming a £250 North Face insulated hooded parka, a knitted cream turtleneck and relaxed jeans.

In the first portrait, shared today by the Danish household, the royal showed a charming smile as she looked at the camera.

The second image showed the 12-year-old sweetly kneeling to pet her dog.

Via Instagram, the household captioned the images: 'Her Excellency Countess Athena has a birthday and turns 12 years old today.

'In honor of the birthday, the Countess' mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Marie, photographed her daughter at the family home in Washington DC'

Athena is the youngest grandchild of Queen Margrethe and the late Prince Henrik, and was born on January 24, 2012 at Copenhagen University Hospital.

She has three older brothers: Prince Nikolai, 21, and Prince Felix, 18, from her father's first marriage to Countess Alexandra and Prince Henrik.

It comes after Athena's father admitted she was bullied at school following Queen Margrethe's decision to strip his 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, rather than His or Her Royal Highness.

The countess, born Princess Athena of Denmark, wore a $250 North Face insulated parka as she posed with her dog

“They come and say (to Athena): Is it you who is no longer a princess?” Princess Marie told the Danish News Agency BT.

She said her children have been thrust into the public eye and feels the need to defend them, especially now that her youngest is being bullied.

'The children were put on public display. In very short order. This means that we as parents have not had time to prepare them for the change and people's reactions,” she added.

Joachim has responded to the measure, saying it has 'punished' his children, claiming he was only told the news five days before it was made public – despite the royal family insisting the decision was 'long overdue '. '.

Despite no longer being considered official members of the Danish royal family, they have retained 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 working royal.

Nikolai is a model with a large Instagram following.

His siblings, Felix, 21, Henrik, 14, and Athena, 11, are ranked seventh, eighth, and ninth respectively 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 on live television that she was stepping 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 decided it was time “to leave the responsibility to the next generation” – namely her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik.