Joachim, Marie, Nikolai & Felix: together & in first photo shoot

This week both Her&Nu and Billed Bladet have published photo spreads of Prince Joachim, his girlfriend Marie Cavallier and the two little Princes Nikolai and Felix. They have been spending time on the slopes in Switzerland in the Alps where Marie's mother and stepfather have a chalet. This is the first time the four have spent time together publicly and the first time Joachim and Marie have done a photo shoot together. They have been in Villars-sur-Ollon, which is near where Marie went to boarding school and where she now lives and works and so she has spent a great deal of time in the area. We also know from previous interviews Marie is a keen skier and is apparently very accomplished. As this is in the Geneva area we may assume this is a place where Marie skiis regularly. Billed Bladet's reporter Ulrik Ulriksen asked Prince Joachim whether an engagement was in the wind and Joachim replied he and Marie were keeping that to themselves while having a great time together in the meantime.

It is impossible not to think this relationship is the 'real deal', as the participants certainly give all the signs of getting on with building a new step family. Marie also commented when asked that she is happy for Alexandra and Martin with their upcoming marriage. There is a sense there is a kind of 'timetable' going along at quite a clipping pace, with Joachim and Alexandra emerging from their marriage, but still bound together in building a new family group. In royal terms, there is still a long way to go for Marie Cavallier to take the steps towards marriage etc., but the significance of time spent with Nikolai and Felix and the first photoshoot of Joachim and Marie together should not be underestimated.

We will bring you more, but (again!), we thought you would like to see some of the photos as soon as possible. And, is Nikolai trying to conceal his missing front teeth in some of the photos? The tooth fairy has been busy!