The VERY awkward moment Princess Marie of Denmark and her husband Prince Joachim's first wife jostle for position in a photo at her stepson's high school graduation

  • Princess Marie, 42, is the second wife of Prince Joachim of Denmark, 49
  • She is thought to enjoy a good relationship with his first wife Alexandra, 53
  • But the women appeared awkward at Alexandra and Joachim's son's graduation
  • Prince Nikolai, 18, was caught in the middle as they jostled for position in a photo

Princess Marie of Denmark was filmed sharing an awkward moment with her husband's ex-wife as they jostled for position at her stepson's graduation.

Princess Marie, 42, is the second wife of Prince Joachim of Denmark, 49, and is thought to enjoy a good relationship with his ex Alexandra, the Countess of Frederiksborg, 53, with whom he has two children.

But the women appeared slightly tense as they posed for photos with Alexandra and Joachim's eldest son Prince Nikolai, 18, at his high school graduation in Næstved, Denmark, on Wednesday. 

Body language expert and author Judi James told how both Alexandra and Marie demonstrated 'territorial' behaviour in 'what looks like a bid to battle for ownership of the young prince'.

Countess Alexandra of Frederiksborg has refuted reports that she 'pushed' her ex husband's new wife describing the claims 'deeply offensive'. Pictured: Alexandra,  Prince Nikolai, Princess Marie and Prince Joachim at Nikolai's graduation as he graduated from the prestigious Herlufsholm School in in Næstved, Denmark

Family day out: Prince Nikolai of Denmark, 18, second from left, was joined by his parents, Prince Joachim, right, and Countess Alexandra, left, and stepmother Princess Marie as he graduated from the prestigious Herlufsholm School in in Næstved, Denmark, on Wednesday

Proud mother: Countess Alexandra pictured with sons Prince Nikolai, 18, left, and Felix, 15, right, whom she shares with Prince Joachim. The couple divorced in 2015

Proud mother: Countess Alexandra pictured with sons Prince Nikolai, 18, left, and Felix, 15, right, whom she shares with Prince Joachim. The couple divorced in 2015

Young family: Prince Nikolai pictured as a child with his parents Joachim and Alexandra

Young family: Prince Nikolai pictured as a child with his parents Joachim and Alexandra

It is reminiscent of the clip of the awkward moment between Queen Letizia of Spain and her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia, that emerged earlier this year.  

In the clip of Nikolai's graduation, shared online by Danish news outlet SE og HØR, Marie and Joachim are seen posing with the teenager in the grounds of the prestigious Herlufsholm School.

Princess Marie, who has two children with Joachim, wraps her arm around Nikolai's back as a photographer asks to take a photo.

Moments later Alexandra can be seen rushing from behind to join the group photo, pulling on Nikolai's arm as she takes her place on the other side of her son.

Princess Marie releases her stepson and the women share a look before Alexandra whips off her sunglasses and puts her arm around her son. 

Family photo: Prince Nikolai put his arm around his stepmother's back as they posed 

Family photo: Prince Nikolai put his arm around his stepmother's back as they posed 

Missing out? His mother, Countess Alexandra, seen left, rushed to join in moments later

Missing out? His mother, Countess Alexandra, seen left, rushed to join in moments later

Tense: The women appeared a little frosty as Alexandra readied herself for a photo

Tense: The women appeared a little frosty as Alexandra readied herself for a photo

Gracious: Marie quickly composed herself and removed her arm from her stepson's back 

Gracious: Marie quickly composed herself and removed her arm from her stepson's back 

Group shot: Alexandra put her arm around her son's back and joined the family for a photo

Group shot: Alexandra put her arm around her son's back and joined the family for a photo

Body language expert reveals what the moment REALLY says about Alexandra and Marie's relationship

Author and body language expert Judi James analysed the video clip and reveals the hidden meanings behind the family's gestures... 

'There is something extremely territorial about this body language, with the two women performing some very awkward rituals in what looks like a bid to battle for ownership of the young prince.

'Initially we have the 'new' family line-up with Princess Marie in full Queen Bee mode, hair-preening and pit-baring in a way that suggests complete confidence to be standing between the two royal men and talking to her husband before placing her arm round the son to pull him in close for an inclusive family pose.

'The son is already beginning to show signs of awkwardness, glancing round as though he has already spotted his mother making her approach from behind.

'There is something very purposeful about the way Alexandra strides up quickly the moment she sees her son being claimed for the happy family pose by his step-mother. Alexandra grabs her son's arm in what looks like a very proprietorial clasp, creating an emotional ripple that works down the group like a Mexican wave.

'The son's head dips in a cut-off gesture, as though he's been caught red-handed and wants to hide and there a a split-second 'battle' between the two women as they each hold one of his arms. The women then do small body nods before raising their inner arms to pit-bare and point their elbows at one other (A pseudo-aggressive power signal) and then the mother slides her arm around her son's waist and Marie's arms drop to her sides.

'The father seems to perform some distraction rituals, fiddling with his sunglasses and looking down as though unwilling to get involved.

'Alexandra beams up at her son in what looks like a gesture of maternal ownership and even victory while Marie turns to look up at her husband with a rather awkward hair-touch cut-off gesture before performing a very rigid-looking smile for the new group photos.'

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French-born Marie appeared slightly taken aback by the moment but quickly composed herself and smiled for further photos. 

Nikolai, who is 7th in line to the throne, signed a modeling contract with Scoop Models in Denmark earlier this year and has already scored career-defining jobs.

Last month, he walked in Burberry designer Christopher Bailey's last show for the fashion house, joining Cara Delevingne on the catwalk and strutting his stuff before a front row that included Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Michelle Dockery, Naomi Watts, Zendaya, and Idris Elba.

Scoop Models revealed the signing on Instagram on February 26, posting several photos of the teen posing with messy brown hair and pouty lips.

Twice married: Prince Joachim with his first wife Alexandra, left, and second wife Marie

Twice married: Prince Joachim with his first wife Alexandra, left, and second wife Marie

Civil: Alexandra, left, and Marie, right, are understood to enjoy a good relationship

Civil: Alexandra, left, and Marie, right, are understood to enjoy a good relationship

Warm greeting: Prince Joachim looked delighted to see his eldest son at his graduation

Warm greeting: Prince Joachim looked delighted to see his eldest son at his graduation

Proud father: The father and son appeared to share a joke, much to Marie's amusement

Proud father: The father and son appeared to share a joke, much to Marie's amusement

Handsome couple: Prince Joachim and Princess Marie arrived at the boarding school

Handsome couple: Prince Joachim and Princess Marie arrived at the boarding school

School's out! The royal couple both donned sunglasses for the outdoor event

School's out! The royal couple both donned sunglasses for the outdoor event

'The decision was made a while ago with both his parents' support and encouragement. He has signed up with Scoop Models Denmark, and they were the agency which proposed Prince Nikolai,' Scoop Models Agency Director Bente Lundquist told InStyle in a statement.

As 7th in line to the Danish throne, he doesn't collect an income from the Crown or have a title or land. He also has not been required by his father, Prince Joachim, to perform any official duties.

Nikolai is also the son of Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. The couple had another child together, 15-year-old Prince Felix, before announcing their divorce in 2004 after nine years of marriage.

Bright future: Prince Nikolai, 7th in line to the throne, recently signed as a model

Bright future: Prince Nikolai, 7th in line to the throne, recently signed as a model

Star turn: Earlier this year the young royal strut his stuff on the catwalk for Burberry, pictured
Prince Nikolai

Star turn: Earlier this year the young royal walked for Burberry at London Fashion Week

While is mother remarried in 2007 — to Martin Jørgensen, a cinematographer 13 years her junior — the two also divorced in 2015. Nikolai's father, Prince Joachim, married Princess Marie in 2008 and had two more children: eight-year-old Henrik and six-year-old Athena.

Nikolai is also the the grandson of Queen Margrethe II. His uncle, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, is the next in line to the throne.

Frederik, 49, had a bit of a playboy reputation before saying 'I do' to Princess Mary in 2004. He dated a string of lingerie models including Malou Aamund and Katja Storkholm, to whom he allegedly proposed.

Now with his own admirers, Nikolai may have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. Though he just came of age last summer, the teen already has plenty of fans. In fact, he has several Instagram accounts dedicate to him, where admirers call him 'handsome AF.'

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