How Prince Nikolai of Denmark walked his own way — the runway

Prince Nikolai of Denmark is rewriting the royal script—not with decrees or diplomacy, but with Dior and Burberry. 

The 25-year-old Count of Monpezat, formerly known as His Highness Prince Nikolai, has become a fashion world darling, proving that royalty can walk the catwalk with the same confidence that they do in palace halls.

Nikolai was born into one of Europe's oldest kingdoms, and he was expected to follow a traditional path. However, in 2022, Queen Margrethe II made news when she stripped four of her grandchildren, including Nikolai, of their princely titles. The measure, she explained, was intended to future-proof the monarchy and allow them to "shape their own lives" without being bound by royal obligations.

While the decision sparked controversy and family tension, it also gave Nikolai the freedom to fully embrace his unconventional path. “I think it is important to have a balanced private life and I value that highly,” he told El País, reflecting on his time studying abroad in Sydney and pursuing fashion.

Palace to Paris

Nikolai made his modeling debut in 2018 at London Fashion Week, walking for Burberry while still in high school at Herlufsholm, a centuries-old prestigious boarding school. His firm, Scoop Models, rapidly booked him for high-profile events, including Kim Jones' debut menswear show for Dior in Paris, which featured an effigy of Christian Dior and a front row packed with both fashion aristocracy and actual royalty.

Jones himself said, “I’m half Danish, and Mr. Dior always had that thing with royalty, so I thought it would be nice to open with a prince. Quite glamorous, isn’t it?” 

Since then, Nikolai has appeared in campaigns, walked for Dior's pre-fall and autumn/winter collections, and appeared on the covers of Vogue Scandinavia, Numéro Homme, and Vogue Ukraine Man E F. In a cover photo taken by Hill & Aubrey for Vogue Scandinavia in February–March 2022, he wore a pink Dior jacket surrounded by flowers, symbolizing his burgeoning career.

Brains behind the beauty

Despite his modeling success, Nikolai insists fashion is a side hustle. “I do not want a career as a model. I’d rather look at it as a job which can help me along the way while educating me,” he told Hola! E. He’s currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration and Service Management at Copenhagen Business School, with stints abroad in Paris and Sydney.

It's an impact, not simply the clothing, that makes Nikolai's narrative so captivating. Instead of carrying out his royal duties, he chose to model after walking out of military school and losing his crown. He still maintains his charm and quiet dignity, though, and is still seventh in line for the throne.

His father, Prince Joachim, summed it up best: “He should not be forced into something. Nikolai’s future shall be conducted entirely by his own plan”.