Prince Joachim is the shadow royal of the Danish monarchy. As the second-born, he left the spotlight to his brother, King Frederik. However, he is now stepping forward. In a documentary film, Queen Margrethe’s son embarks on a journey—one that also leads him through his clouded past.
At 55, Prince Joachim laces up his trekking shoes and ventures into rough terrain. For the TV documentary Hærvejen, he sets out on a journey into the past with his friend, doctor, and author Steffen Jacobsen, 68. The two men hike along Hærvejen, a historic route leading from Denmark to Schleswig-Holstein. As they walk, they reflect on their different backgrounds—stirring up old wounds in the process.
Prince Joachim Walks the Paths of Memory
On March 20, 2025, the extraordinary documentary premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival in Copenhagen. Even the royal family promoted it, despite its focus on more than just picturesque landscapes and Denmark’s beauty. “Through moors, forests, and cobblestone streets, honest conversations emerge about social heritage, responsibility, and the threads of fate that shape a person,” the royal court commented in an Instagram post announcing the film.
“Anyone who says Denmark doesn’t have great nature has never been here,” Joachim enthuses in one of the documentary’s shared clips. And it is clear: The exiled royal, who recently lived in France and has now relocated with his family to Washington, D.C., speaks from the heart—and does not hold back when it comes to personal matters.
Joachim appears relatable and deeply vulnerable. The discussion revolves around love—both lost and flourishing. As it turns out, both are intertwined. He speaks openly about his failed marriage to Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg, 60, the mother of his two eldest sons, Count Nikolai, 25, and Count Felix, 22. A sensitive subject. Their marriage lasted nine years. On November 18, 1995, they exchanged vows, but in September 2004, the Danish palace announced their divorce.
A turning point, accompanied by emotional pain, as Joachim now reveals in conversation with Jacobsen. A great act of trust—especially in front of cameras—as the prince explains that he has a kind of built-in “spring” that automatically shuts everything down whenever his private life is brought up.
He built walls around himself, something he makes abundantly clear. Yet his friend finds the gap that leads to greater openness.
Jacobsen urges the prince to speak freely and “brutally honestly.” The key word: Loneliness. And Joachim immediately connects it to his divorce.
“It wasn’t a being-all-alone loneliness,” he explains. “It was the loneliness of having done something that was inevitable and necessary—the first time in forever in my family.” He also sensed that his decision would shock and, most of all, disappoint many people.
“Depression from Failure”
“There I was, in this strange loneliness, being measured against everything ‘that had never been done before,’” he describes his inner turmoil at the time, admitting that he also suffered from guilt. “Yes. Towards everything and everyone. This loneliness and the way I experienced it shaped me deeply.”
Jacobsen, who himself has been divorced three times and battled depression, presses further, wanting to know if Joachim struggled with mental distress as well.
“Of course, in one form or another,” the prince replies.
“Depression from failure.”
But there were two people who stood by him during that time. Six years ago, he had already mentioned the role of his father, Prince Henrik, †83, as his rock during the separation phase in an interview with Politiken newspaper. In this unusually intimate conversation, he confessed: “You stand there, feeling disgusted, searching. Then a friend simply reaches out a hand. And doesn’t say ‘Go this way’ or ‘Take that path’ or ‘Do this or that.’”
His father, known for his strict nature, suddenly became this trusted confidant. He assured him: “I am here. I am a friend. If you take my hand, I will be there.”
Princess Marie Intervenes
Another person close to his heart also reached out, pulling him from the depths of depression and fear of failure: Princess Marie, 49, who entered his life when he was at rock bottom. She saw him as a person, not just a prince. On May 24, 2008, they married. Joachim became a father again. Count Henrik, 15, and Countess Athena, 13, completed their happiness.
Marie apparently brought structure back into his life, setting common goals with heart and mind. She helped him understand that it was okay to let go of Schackenborg Castle. For six years, she watched as things deteriorated and Joachim sank deeper into debt.
Then she told him: “Listen, you shouldn’t worry about expectations.”
Eventually, Joachim swallowed his pride and sold the castle and part of its surrounding land in 2014. It was no easy decision, as he had received the estate as a Christmas gift at the age of just eight. However, even Queen Margrethe helped relieve him of his guilt. “Managing it became increasingly difficult, and my son cannot be a full-time farmer, even if he wanted to. He has his duties as part of the royal family,” she stated matter-of-factly in an interview with author Thomas Larsen for his book De dybeste rødder (The Deepest Roots).
Two strong women provided him with support during that time—especially Marie. “She sounds like an amazing woman,” Jacobsen remarks in the documentary.
“She is,” Prince Joachim replies.
Joachim Walks the “Ox Road”
Hærvejen is named after the historic route that runs vertically through Denmark. Accompanied by Steffen Jacobsen, Joachim hikes the Ox Road, as the route is also known. The landscape plays a significant role, of course, but it is the life stories of the two men that form the heart of their journey.
Joachim first came up with the idea of walking the trail when he met Jacobsen during the filming of the series Prins Joachim fortæller (Prince Joachim Tells) in 2019.
Hærvejen will air in June on the Danish channels DR1 and DRTV.
