Princess Marie of Denmark, currently residing in the United States with Prince Joachim and their children, Count Henrik, 16, and Countess Athena, 14, prepares to return home. The family anticipates the move, with Princess Marie expressing enthusiasm for resuming her work and patronages in Denmark.
Strategic Timing for the Relocation
The family plans to relocate in August 2027, aligning with educational milestones. Princess Marie explained that Count Henrik will complete high school in the US, while Countess Athena aims to finish her schooling in Denmark. She stated: “I’m looking forward to getting back to my work and my patronages. And getting back to Denmark. And what happens after that, time will tell. We are really looking forward to it. It has been really exciting to be out of the country and be able to support Denmark abroad.”
Past International Assignments
This marks another chapter of overseas living for the Danish royals. Prince Joachim, fifth in line to the throne, previously served as Military Attaché at the Royal Danish Embassy in Paris from 2020 to 2023, where the family resided in Princess Marie’s birthplace.
Currently, Prince Joachim holds the role of defense industry attaché at the Danish Embassy in Washington, mirroring his prior diplomatic duties.
Extension of Washington Stay
In 2025, the Ministry of Defense extended Prince Joachim’s position until the end of August 2027. The official statement noted: “HRH Prince Joachim will be extended in his position as Defense Industry Attaché and Deputy Defense Attaché in Washington DC until the end of August 2027. HRH Prince Joachim, together with HRH Princess Marie and their two children, HRH Count Henrik and HRH Countess Athena, will therefore remain living in Washington DC, where the children also attend their daily schooling.”
Despite earlier wishes to return sooner, the family extended their stay. In June 2025, Prince Joachim shared: “We have a desire to come home. But we also do not rule out the possibility of staying abroad. Now we have to see. For now, it is on our radar. When the post here stops, we will return home.”
He attributed the longing to homesickness, adding: “Overall, we can all feel it, and we can also feel it in the children, that it is at home in Denmark that we have our largest social base. We can’t travel back and forth, after all, there is a six-hour time difference and an entire ocean in between. We take our time when we are home and enjoy it to the fullest. Perhaps that is the band-aid for being far away from home.”
Glimpse into Washington Residence
In January 2025, the Danish royal family offered a peek into their Washington home via official Instagram, featuring Countess Athena on her 13th birthday. The photo showed her in a living room with a built-in white shelving unit displaying books and a framed picture of Princess Marie holding one of her children as a baby.
