DENMARK: Almost four months to the day since Denmark celebrated a royal wedding, the country is coming to terms with the announcement of a royal divorce.
Prince Joachim, the youngest son of Queen Margrethe, and his Hong Kong-born wife Princess Alexandra will separate for six months before divorcing officially, royal spokesman Ove Ullerup announced to a packed press conference at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen early Thursday morning.
The couple have two sons, Prince Nikolai (5) and Prince Felix (2).
"After long and difficult considerations, we have mutually decided to apply for a separation order and will subsequently seek a divorce. We are in agreement on the conditions and will undertake joint custody of our children," the couple said in a prepared statement.
Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra were married in 1995 and the princess immediately set about winning the hearts and minds of the Danish people with her charming, down-to-earth approach and, perhaps more importantly, by mastering the Danish language in a matter of months.
In contrast, the more formal Prince Joachim has often struggled to match the popular appeal of his wife and his older brother, Crown Prince Frederick, who married Australian Mary Donaldson last May in the full glare of the world's media.
This will be the first divorce within the Danish Royal family since 1846 when King Frederik VII divorced Princess Caroline Charlotte Mariane.
The divorce will be finalised after six months, in accordance with Danish law in cases of no-contest separation.