Prince Nikolai of Denmark brought royalty to the first red carpet of the Venice Film Festival 2025. On the red carpet of the festival’s opening film, Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia, the captivating grandson of Queen Margrethe II enchanted with his innate magic. Wearing a velvet tuxedo, Nikolai has already won the hearts of many.
Especially since he found his calling: the catwalk. In 2018, he surprised the world with his debut for Burberry, breaking with a tradition that steers European royals away from commercial work. Since then, the 25-year-old, now the Count of Monpezat, formerly known as His Highness, has become a darling of the fashion world, proving that a royal can walk the runway with the same confidence he might display in the palace halls.
Recall that in 2022 Queen Margrethe II made headlines when she stripped four of her grandchildren, including Nikolai, of their princely titles. The measure, she explained, was intended to secure the future of the monarchy and allow them to “shape their own lives” without being bound by royal obligations.
Nikolai thus went on to model for some of the most important fashion houses, becoming one of the leading faces of Dior Men under the direction of Kim Jones, appearing in advertising campaigns, walking the runway until he was featured on several covers of emblazoned magazines such as Numéro Homme and Vogue Ukraine Man. On the cover for Vogue Scandinavia in 2022, he wore a pink Dior jacket surrounded by flowers, symbolizing his burgeoning career.
Despite his success as a model, Nikolai insists that fashion is a side project. He is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration and Service Management at Copenhagen Business School. More than his looks, it is Nikolai’s impact and self-confidence that make him appealing.
Although he has somewhat “rebelled” against his royal duties, he still retains a kind of quiet dignity—and it’s truly compelling.
Originally published in Vanity Fair Italy.
