News Article
Four years later
Children Stripped of Their Royal Titles
The Palace released a surprising communique today, which reads:
"His Majesty The King thus forth orders that the offspring, both current and future, of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Nicholai and Princess Wilhelmina and Her Royal Highness Princess Estelle and Mr. Christopher Wallace will no longer be members of The Royal House of Windingham.
The purpose of these changes is to establish which members of the Royal Family are expected to perform official duties and to consolidate the line of succession. "
While losing their HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) titles, Princess Estelle's two children, Princess Marina (5) and Prince Maxim (3) will retain their princess and prince designations previously bestowed upon them by The King, as will Princess Astrid (2), who is the adopted daughter of Prince Nicholai and Princess Wilhemina; however, the titles are now purely symbolic and will not be passed onto to any future spouses or children.
It is expected that the future offspring of Prince Nicholai and Princess Wilhelmina, who is pregnant with their second child, will also receive a symbolic prince or princess designation.
Prince Nicholai, Princess Wilhelmina, and Princess Estelle are expected to continue working with their charitable patronages in their official capacities as members of The Royal House of Windingham.
One royal expert sounded off suggesting that The King's decree was a deliberate move to allow the next generation of royals more freedom of choice within their personal and professional lives.
"The importance is not that the children will be stripped of their HRH titles, it's that they will no longer be required to be working royals. As such, they will be able to live their lives outside of the public eye and be allowed to pursue careers independent of the monarchy. It’s quite a bold, and probably welcomed, move to make. "
Given that King Alexander and Queen Gabrielle already have three direct heirs, Princess Aurelia (2), Prince Edward (8 months) and Prince Philippe (8 months), the Belgrovinian line of succession is secure.