Loïc Padovani
December 22nd, 2022

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Nikolai (left) at his grandfather’s funeral (photo: Hasse Ferrold)

Prince Nicolai, Prince Felix, Prince Henrik and Princess Athena will become counts and countesses in the New Year … a move that has shocked and saddened Prince Joachim and his four children.

But now a Megafon survey has revealed that Queen Margrethe’s controversial decision to strip the titles of the four children has the support of the Danes.

The survey showed that 53 percent of Danes believe that it makes sense if Prince Joachim’s children don’t have titles anymore.

“The Danes have a somewhat cringe-like relationship with the Royal Family. We are happy with it and think it works. But we also want value for money,” Royal Family expert Jakob Steen Olsen told TV2, describing the situation as being one of the biggest crises for the Danish Royal family in recent times.

READ ALSO: From third-in-line to minor royal: Nikolai and his siblings don’t count for much anymore

Not the best way to handle it
According to the survey, 44 percent said that the Queen had handled the maneuver poorly.

“When writing Queen Margrethe’s legacy, you have to say that she has had one weak point. She did not take her family’s feelings into account. The family is part of the ‘company’, and therefore it is important,” he said.

In 2019, Swedish King Carl Gustav did the same thing with Princess Madeleine, Prince Carl Philip and their children.

However, the whole family was behind the press release, and they quickly backed the decision on their own social media accounts.

First-time mothers get hospital reprieve
Soon, first-time mothers at giving birth at Rigshospitalet and Herlev hospitals will have the opportunity to remain in hospital for up to two days after birth, rather than the current four hours. Currently, only Hvidovre Hospital allows for two days, while at Nordsjællands Hospital is based on an individual assessment made together with the mothers. At Sjællands Universitetshospital in Roskilde, it is five to seven hours for mothers wanting to give birth on an outpatient basis, or one day if they wish to stay in the maternity ward.

Social interaction distinctly changed for Danish children
Children meet more behind a screen and less in person, according to a report from the Danish centre for social research and analysis, VIVE. Around 45 percent of boys between 11 and 19 are in daily contact with their friends via social media and video games – almost 25 percent of them only meet their mates online. The figure was less for girls. In 2009, 72 percent of young boys saw their friends at least once a week in person, compared to 40 percent in 2021.

Danish pizzeria rated among the best
When talking about pizza, Copenhagen is never far away from the top. Bæst has been rated the 14th best pizza joint in the world by Big 7 Travel list, which is topped by Naples’ 10 by Diego Vitagliano. “The team sources every ingredient straight from the farm, including organic meats and homemade mozzarella. Then they slide the freshly prepared pizzas into a wood-fired oven and onto your plate a few minutes later. It’s a casual dining spot, but every pizza is made with real care and passion”, the rating found.

Ukrainian flag can keep flying
Due to ongoing War in Ukraine, the Justice Ministry has decided to extend the authorisation for the public to fly the Ukrainian flag in Denmark. The extension will run until June 30. However, state authorities must fly the Dannebrog flag on official Danish flag days during the period.

Denmark among biggest consumers in the EU
According to Danmarks Statistik, the individual consumption per capita in Denmark was 19 percent above the EU average in 2021 … only behind Luxembourg and Germany. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Bulgaria landed at 65 percent under the EU average. The stats also showed that the Danish GDP per capita was 33 percent above the EU average.

Research and development corresponds to 2.9 percent of GDP in Denmark
Figures from Danmarks Statistik showed that expenditure for R&D represented 73.3 billion kroner in 2021 … or 2.9 percent of GDP. The level is comparable to 2020. Since 2010, the share of R&D expenditure has been around 3 percent of GDP each year.

Danish consumer price level second highest in the EU
In 2021, consumer prices were 43 percent above the EU average, according to Danmarks Statistik. That ranked Denmark second highest behind Ireland (44 percent above). The general prices were the highest in Denmark last year compared to the rest of EU member states, while food prices were most expensive in Luxembourg.

More women financially vulnerable
More women suffered financially in 2022 compared to the previous year. According to Danmarks Statistik, 0.7 percent more women struggled financially in 2022 compared to last year. 7.8 percent of women struggled financially this year, while the share among men remained unchanged at 6.9 percent. Single women living at home with children are contributing to the increase.