He was the guest royal watchers weren't entirely sure would show up. But Count Nikolai of Monpezat arrived at one of Denmark's most talked-about society weddings this weekend dressed in full white-tie regalia — and wearing an honour bestowed upon him by the very uncle who could have left him out in the cold.
A Castle, a Wedding, and a Statement Entrance
The occasion was the wedding of Cecilie Juhl and Count Gregers Carl Preben Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille at Kværndrup Kirke on the island of Funen, with celebrations also taking place at the spectacular Egeskov Castle. The groom is the godson of King Frederik X, which meant the guest list read like a who's who of Danish royalty — and Count Nikolai was firmly among them.
Dressed in a tailcoat, waistcoat and formal sash, Nikolai wore the Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog draped diagonally across his chest — one of Denmark's highest honours, presented to him and his younger brother, Count Felix, by King Frederik X in a private ceremony at Amalienborg Palace. Given that their grandmother, Queen Margrethe II, stripped Nikolai and his three siblings of their princely titles years earlier, the decoration carried no small amount of symbolic weight.
"Both my life and the role I once played have changed. A decision was made on my behalf, and that is never pleasant, of course," Nikolai has said previously in a documentary series, describing the title loss as a kind of exile.
Yet here he was, back through the doors of a castle, standing shoulder to shoulder with the family he was once told he'd have to step back from. Nikolai shared a collection of photos from the day on social media — including a snap of the newlyweds in the back of a car and a glimpse at the spectacular tiered wedding cake — captioning them simply: "What a day."
Benedikte Thoustrup Channels Victoria Beckham
If Nikolai's presence was the talking point, his girlfriend of eight years provided the fashion moment. Model Benedikte Thoustrup, 27, arrived in the 'Isabella Gown' from Victoria Beckham's eponymous label — a floor-sweeping, deep slate blue silk dress that gathered at the waist with a lustrous satin finish and splits down the short sleeves for an effortlessly fluid effect. Concealed beneath the hem: a pair of blue vintage Gucci heels.
Benedikte accessorised with a statement gold clutch from H&M and jewellery from Copenhagen label Ole Lynggaard, wearing her hair down and parted to the side to show off a pair of dangle earrings. She shared the look on Instagram — and Nikolai, apparently very much a fan, replied in the comments with one word: "gorgeous."
Queen Mary and King Frederik Complete the Star-Studded Line-Up
The couple were far from the only ones turning heads. Queen Mary arrived in a pale pastel pink lace-trimmed chiffon gown by New York designer Mikael Aghal — a dress she has previously worn during an official royal tour of Nigeria in June 2025 and during an official visit to Australia in October 2024. For the wedding, she paired it with Gianvito Rossi pink pumps, a Prada clutch, and the Edwardian Tiara, which she purchased at auction in 2012.
"Like everything in life, I try to make the most of things and see them from a positive perspective. I am now in the process of finding my own path in life," Nikolai has said of life beyond his former royal role.
That path, it seems, has led him somewhere rather fine. Beyond the world of high society, Nikolai has completed a master's degree in economics and business administration, specialising in sales management, and has pursued a modelling career that has taken him onto runways and into campaigns worldwide. But on a warm Saturday in Funen, none of that was the point. He showed up, dressed to the nines, and took his place — Dannebrog and all.
