Vexed inheritance at the heart of the Danish royal feud: SHARON HUNT reveals how Queen Mary’s mother-in-law could unite her warring sons – but it will involve a very unorthodox move

A French château is emerging as a potential linchpin in the Danish royal family’s plan to ease tensions between warring brothers King Frederik and Prince Joachim.

Who inherits the property – which is a private holiday home and not an official royal residence – could well determine the future of the House of Glücksburg, according to European royal watchers.

At the heart of the matter lies Château de Cayx, nestled near Cahors in the Lot Valley of France – a beloved retreat for the Danish royals for decades.

It’s where Queen Mary and King Frederik recently retreated for a private summer break – and enjoyed it so much they extended their stay twice.

Meanwhile, Queen Margrethe was quietly coaxed from retirement to serve as stand-in monarch while her son holidayed abroad.

The King and Queen weren’t the only family members to enjoy some downtime in the south of France recently.

The in-demand property was also visited over the European summer by Frederik’s brother Prince Joachim and his family.

Joachim and wife Princess Marie took their two children, Count Henrik and Countess Athena, to Château de Cayx for a family vacation. They were joined by the Prince’s two adult sons from his first marriage, Count Felix and Count Nikolai.

But what intrigues royal pundits most is who will inherit the château.

When Queen Margrethe, 85, abdicated in 2024, passing the throne and most royal properties to her eldest son Frederik, one estate stood apart: Château de Cayx.

The French property is one of only three privately owned by the former monarch. The others – Marselisborg Castle and a hunting lodge in Trend – were public gifts and are expected to pass automatically to King Frederik.

But the château – purchased in 1974 by Margrethe and her late husband, Prince Henrik – is a different story. Henrik especially loved the French estate, while Margrethe cherished its tranquil grounds.

When Prince Henrik died in 2018, ownership passed fully to Margrethe. Now, it’s up to her to decide which of her two sons will one day inherit it.

For years, the entire Danish royal family has holidayed together at Château de Cayx, including a 2014 gathering for Prince Henrik’s 80th birthday.

Royal watchers predict the château may well become a flashpoint within the family’s already fragile dynamics. Local publication SE og HØR recently called the inheritance decision ‘a ticking bomb under the brothers’ fragile relationship’.

Unlike a typical inheritance, assets were never meant to be divided equally between Frederik and Joachim. As the eldest, Frederik has always been destined to inherit the throne – along with most of his mother’s private assets, ensuring they remain within the royal family for future monarchs.

It’s expected Margrethe will name Frederik and Mary as heirs to the Aarhus castle, the hunting lodge, and the bulk of her multimillion-dollar jewellery collection. Even the lavish palace furniture will go to Frederik and Mary, as it technically belongs to the Danish state.

As SE og HØR put it: ‘It will be the King who takes all the valuables when Queen Margrethe is no longer with us. And Joachim must accept that there will only be crumbs left for him when the inheritance is settled.’

Ouch.

This resignation to second-born status – watching vast wealth and property pass to an older sibling – must only deepen Joachim’s already strained family ties.

Tensions escalated rapidly when the then-Queen announced in 2022 that she would strip Joachim’s four children of their royal titles and any accompanying spoils.

Prince Joachim publicly lashed out at the decision, then took off to the United States for a new diplomatic posting, with his family in tow.

But since Joachim’s brother Frederik took the throne, that anger appears to have softened slightly. More recently, he has indicated he wants to return to Denmark.

Meanwhile, King Frederik and Queen Mary have made shrewd attempts to mend fences, including recently bestowing prestigious honours on Joachim’s elder sons.

But things could fall apart again when the fate of Château de Cayx is revealed.

In theory, the simplest way to mend lingering ill will would be for the ageing Margrethe to bequeath it to her youngest son.

But it’s not that simple.

Royal commentators believe it would be in the monarchy’s best interests to keep the château within the core royal line, making King Frederik the likely heir.

Were it to pass to Prince Joachim, there’s a risk it could eventually move outside the immediate family – through inheritance or divorce – and be lost as a crown asset.

Passing the property to Joachim raises another issue: he would face a 15 per cent tax on its current value.

By contrast, Danish law exempts regent-to-regent inheritance from tax, making it financially sensible for the château to go to the eldest.

Presumably, Frederik would still allow his younger brother to enjoy those idyllic French summer holidays, even without Joachim’s name on the deed.

So far, the former Queen has given no clear public hint as to who will one day inherit the privately owned Château de Cayx.

Yet royal watchers believe that, despite the tax hit and its unconventional nature, Queen Margrethe may well amend her will to ensure Joachim inherits the château.

It would certainly be a loss for the royal portfolio, but such a gesture of goodwill could help restore the longstanding loyalty that has been missing within the wider family.

That would be priceless.  

Is Count Nikolai’s girlfriend a Meghan in the making?

Speaking of Château de Cayx, Prince Joachim’s eldest son Count Nikolai was on the latest family holiday guest list – and his girlfriend of seven years, Benedikte Thoustrup, also got to tag along.

The young couple’s Instagram accounts were awash with photos of their stay – but we didn’t expect to get such a forensic examination of their luggage.

Seven ultra-curated pictures of open suitcases were posted to Benedikte’s page on July 21, revealing what was packed in their bags for the European summer.

But it wasn’t the selection of high-end items, like cashmere sweaters, designer perfumes and fancy jewellery, that sparked the most chatter among royal fans.

Rather, it was the Meghan-Markle level of colour coordination and over-styling in the presentation of each individual travel bag. 

In one of the cases, even the book cover of Adam Grant’s self-help tome Give and Take was colour-matched to the adjacent skincare products, frocks and blouses.

I’m always the first to welcome any kind of peek behind the royal curtain – and snooping inside a royal’s travel bag fits the bill.

But these flawless bags felt more like a curated display than real life – the kind of move a certain British royal in the lifestyle game is known for…

Now hiring at Buckingham Palace

Think you’ve got what it takes to make the perfect boiled egg for King Charles’ daily breakfast?

Well, sous chefs, Buckingham Palace wants you!

A rare opportunity is up for grabs to go behind the curtain and join the culinary team at the royal household.

But the listing on the royal family’s website reveals the role isn’t a walk in the park.

The kitchen job is a full time position working up to 45 hours per week across five days, which will sometimes include weekends.

As well as making daily meals for the household, the successful applicant’s duties will extend to catering major events, including visiting dignitaries.

Given Charles’ passion for sustainability, the ad notes the new royal cook will work with the finest seasonal produce and locally sourced ingredients.

Employment also comes with certain employee benefits.

For instance, there are ‘complimentary admission tickets’ to any of the royal households that are open to the public.

The sous chef will also enjoy a 20 per cent discount at the Royal Collection Trust shops.

If it sounds like the job for you, apply here. Applications close on 28 September.