Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark

Last updated

Christian
Prins Christian til Danmark 2021.JPG
Prince Christian in 2021
Born (2005-10-15) 15 October 2005 (age 19)
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
Names
Christian Valdemar Henri John
Father Frederik X
Mother Mary Donaldson
Education

Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat RE (Christian Valdemar Henri John; born 15 October 2005), is the heir apparent to the Danish throne. He is the eldest child of King Frederik X and Queen Mary. He was born during the reign of his paternal grandmother, Queen Margrethe II. He became Crown Prince of Denmark following his grandmother's abdication and his father's subsequent ascension to the Danish throne on 14 January 2024.

Contents

Birth

Prince Christian was born on 15 October 2005 at 1:57 am CET at Rigshospitalet, the Copenhagen University Hospital, in Copenhagen. [1] At noon on the day of his birth, a 21-gun salute were fired from the Sixtus Battery at Holmen Naval Base in the Port of Copenhagen and at Kronborg Castle in Elsinore to mark the birth of a royal child. [2] At the same time, public buses and official buildings flew the Danish flag, the Dannebrog. [2] At sunset on the same day beacon bonfires were lit all across Denmark, while Naval Home Guard vessels lit their searchlights and directed them towards the capital. [3]

Christian was baptized on 21 January 2006 in Christiansborg Palace Chapel by the Bishop of Copenhagen Erik Norman Svendsen. [4] He was baptised at the royal baptismal font which has been used for the baptism of royal children in Denmark since 1671, and wore the royal christening gown which was made for his great-great-grandfather, King Christian X, in 1870. [5] Christian's godparents are his paternal uncle, Prince Joachim of Denmark; his maternal aunt, Jane Stephens; his father's first cousin, the Crown Prince of Greece; the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway; the Crown Princess of Sweden; and two friends of the couple, Jeppe Handwerk and Hamish Campbell. [6] He was named Christian Valdemar Henri John, continuing the Danish royal tradition of alternating between the names Christian and Frederik in direct line.[ citation needed ] He received a number of presents on the occasion of his christening, including a pony called Flikflak from the Folketing, Denmark's national parliament. [7]

On 11 September 2006, Per Stig Møller, Denmark's Minister for Foreign Affairs, formally wrote and signed a hand-written document confirming Prince Christian's place in the line of succession. The prince's full name, his dates of birth and baptism, and the names of his godparents were recorded as dictated by the Royal Law of 1799. [8] [9]

Education

Prince Christian of Denmark escorted by his parents on his first day of school in August 2011 Prince Christian of Denmark on his first day of school.jpg
Prince Christian of Denmark escorted by his parents on his first day of school in August 2011

Christian was the first member of the Danish royal family to attend nursery school. He initially attended nursery school at Queen Louise's Asylum Kindergarten in Fredensborg before transferred to Garrison Church's Congregational Kindergarten at Sankt Annæ Plads. [10] At the same age, his father had a nanny at the Palace to teach him rudimentary lessons. He is also the first member of the royal family to attend a public state school, Tranegård School in Hellerup. [11] The Danish court announced in October 2019 that Christian and his three younger siblings would undertake a 12-week school stay at Lemania-Verbier International School in Verbier, Switzerland, in the beginning of 2020. [12] The stay was cut short and the siblings returned home in March due to the intensification of the COVID-19 situation in Denmark. [13] In April 2021, it was announced that Christian would undertake his secondary education at the Danish boarding school Herlufsholm, starting in August 2021. [14] In June 2022, shortly after finishing the first year of his upper secondary education, it was announced that Christian would no longer attend the school, after recurring allegations of bullying, violence and sexual abuse at the institution surfaced in a documentary. [15] Instead, he transferred to the public gymnasium, Ordrup Gymnasium. [16] He graduated in June 2024. [17]

Activities

Christian undertook his first official engagement when he attended the opening of a new elephant house at the Copenhagen Zoo with his grandfather, Prince Henrik in 2008. Christian opened the elephant house by pressing a button on an interactive console. The elephants were a gift from the King and Queen of Thailand to the Queen and Prince Consort of Denmark on their visit to Thailand. [18] [19] In 2010, Christian and his grandfather revealed a portrait of Prince Ulrik at the Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle, and in 2012, also at the Museum of National History, he and Queen Margrethe II revealed the first ever portrait of him (with his father and grandmother), commissioned for the Queen's Ruby Jubilee. [20] He and his siblings accompanied their parents on an official visit to Greenland on 1–8 August 2014, where Christian partook in several official engagements.[ citation needed ] Likewise, he accompanied his parents on most of their engagements during the family's official visit to the Faroe Islands on 23–26 August 2018.

Christian was confirmed on 15 May 2021 in the Royal Chapel of Fredensborg Palace. [21] On 13 June 2021, Christian accompanied his grandmother and father at the COVID-19 postponed centenary of the reunification of Denmark and Northern Schleswig, following the route his great-great-grandfather Christian X rode on 15 July 1920 over the old border between Denmark and Germany. [22] Accompanying his father, Christian attended a memorial for the victims of the 2022 Copenhagen mall shooting on 5 July 2022. [23]

For the 18th birthday of Prince Christian, which marked the beginning of his royal duties, Margrethe II hosted a banquet at Christianborg Palace. In attendance were members of the Danish royal family, including Christian's parents, siblings, cousins and Princess Benedikte, and 200 members of the Danish public youth who had distinguished themselves in sport, art and culture. Additionally, Margrethe II invited eleven members of foreign royal families – Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Greece, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, the Crown Princess of Sweden, the Duke of Västergötland, the Duchess of Östergötland, the Princess of Orange and the Duchess of Brabant. [24] A photo was captured on the night that contained the future monarchs of Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. [24] The official Danish royal family's Instagram account posted the following day a photo of a single sparkling shoe that was left in the palace and wrote, "Is it Cinderella who forgot her shoe last night?" [25]

Crown Prince of Denmark

Christian is first in line to the Danish throne and eldest child of King Frederik X. Since the 16th century, first-born sons of Danish monarchs have traditionally been alternately named Frederik and Christian. [26]

Christian's grandmother, Queen Margrethe II, announced her pending abdication on live television in her New Year's Eve address on 31 December 2023. [27] On 14 January 2024, Prince Christian, the Queen, and Crown Prince Frederik participated in a meeting of the Council of State, with the cabinet ministers and the council of state secretary in attendance. The moment the Queen signed a declaration of her abdication, Crown Prince Frederik acceded to the Danish throne as King Frederik X. [28] [29] Christian, who became the heir apparent, is referred to as "HRH Crown Prince Christian". [30]

In January 2024, Christian became a regent for the first time during his father's three day state visit to Poland. [31] He signed his first law at Amalienborg Palace on 31 January 2024. [32] He became the regent during his parents' state visit to Sweden and Norway in May 2024. [33] [34]

Personal life

Christian was made the godfather of his second cousin, Prince Gustav Albrecht, the son of Gustav, 7th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. [35]

Titles, styles, and honours

Royal monogram Royal Monogram of Prince Christian of Denmark.svg
Royal monogram

Titles

Honours

National honours

Orders and appointments
Medals and decorations
  • DEN Prince Henriks 75th Birthday Medal ribbon.svg 11 June 2009: Prince Henrik's 75th Birthday Medal [39]
  • Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar.svg 16 April 2010: Queen Margrethe II's 70th Birthday Medal [40]
  • DEN Medal for the Ruby Jubilee of Queen Margarethe of Denmark ribbon.svg 14 January 2012: Queen Margrethe II's Ruby Jubilee Medal [40]
  • Order of the Dannebrog R.svg 16 April 2015: Queen Margrethe II's 75th Birthday Medal [40]
  • DEN Golden Wedding Commemorative Medal of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik.png 10 June 2017: Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik's Golden Wedding Anniversary Medal [40]
  • Prince Henriks Commemorative Medal.png 11 June 2018: Prince Henrik's Memorial Medal [41]
  • DEN Medal of Merit ribbon.svg 16 April 2020: Queen Margrethe II's 80th Birthday Medal [40]
  • Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar.svg 14 January 2022: Queen Margrethe II's Golden Jubilee Medal [42]

Foreign honours

Other honours

In 2006 Scandinavian Airlines System was in the process of purchasing new Airbus A319 aircraft and in Christian's honour the first of these, delivered on 8 August 2006, was named Christian Valdemar Viking. [44]

Ancestry

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margrethe II</span> Queen of Denmark from 1972 to 2024

Margrethe II is a member of the Danish royal family who reigned as Queen of Denmark from 14 January 1972 until her abdication on 14 January 2024. Having reigned for exactly 52 years, she was the second-longest reigning Danish monarch after Christian IV. She is also the world's most recent female reigning monarch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Henrik of Denmark</span> Consort of Margrethe II from 1972 to 2018

Prince Henrik of Denmark was the husband of Margrethe II of Denmark. He served as her royal consort from Margrethe's accession on 14 January 1972 until his death in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederik IX</span> King of Denmark from 1947 to 1972

Frederik IX was King of Denmark from 1947 to 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Benedikte of Denmark</span> Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is a member of the Danish royal family. She is the second daughter and child of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark. She is the younger sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and therefore the aunt of Margrethe's son, the current King of Denmark, Frederik X. She is also an older sister of Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Joachim of Denmark</span> Danish prince (born 1969)

Prince Joachim of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is a member of the Danish royal family. The younger son of Queen Margrethe II, he is fifth in the line of succession to the Danish throne, following the four children of his elder brother King Frederik X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederik X</span> King of Denmark since 2024

Frederik X is King of Denmark. He acceded to the throne following his mother's abdication on 14 January 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Mary of Denmark</span> Queen of Denmark since 2024

Mary is Queen of Denmark as the wife of King Frederik X.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Succession to the Danish throne</span>

The Danish Act of Succession, adopted on 5 June 1953, restricts the throne to those descended from Christian X and his wife, Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, through approved marriages. By a change in the law in 2009, succession is governed by absolute primogeniture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Nikolai of Monpezat</span> Member of the Danish royal family (born 1999)

Count Nikolai of Monpezat is a member of the Danish royal family. He is the eldest son of Prince Joachim and his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, the eldest grandchild of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik, and the eldest nephew of King Frederik X. He is currently sixth in the line of succession to the Danish throne. At the time of his birth, he was third, after his uncle and father.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Felix of Monpezat</span> Member of the Danish royal family (born 2002)

Count Felix of Monpezat is a member of the Danish royal family. He is the younger son of Prince Joachim and his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. He is a grandson of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik, and a nephew of King Frederik X. Felix is currently seventh in the line of succession to the Danish throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg</span> Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg was the head of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and husband of Princess Benedikte of Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Isabella of Denmark</span> Danish princess (born 2007)

Princess Isabella of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, is a member of the Danish royal family. She is the second child and elder daughter of King Frederik X and Queen Mary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Ingolf of Rosenborg</span> Relative of the Danish monarchy

Count Ingolf of Rosenborg is a Danish count and former prince. Born Prince Ingolf of Denmark, he appeared likely to some day become king until the constitution was changed in 1953 to allow females to inherit the crown, placing his branch of the dynasty behind that of his first cousin Princess Margrethe and her two younger sisters. He later gave up his princely rank and his rights to the throne in order to marry a commoner.

Count Christian of Rosenborg was a member of the Danish royal family. Born Prince Christian of Denmark, from 1947 he was third in the line of line of succession until the constitution was changed in 1953 to allow females to inherit the crown, placing his branch of the dynasty behind that of his cousin Margrethe and her two younger sisters. He later gave up his princely rank and his rights to the throne in order to marry a commoner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Count Henrik of Monpezat</span> Member of the Danish royal family (born 2009)

Count Henrik of Monpezat is a member of the Danish royal family. He is the third and youngest son of Prince Joachim and the only son of his second wife, Princess Marie. He is a grandson of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik and a nephew of King Frederik X. Henrik is eighth in the line of succession to the Danish throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Vincent of Denmark</span> Danish prince (born 2011)

Prince Vincent of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is a member of the Danish royal family. He is the third child and younger son of King Frederik X and Queen Mary, the sixth grandchild and youngest grandson of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik, and the older twin brother of Princess Josephine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Josephine of Denmark</span> Danish princess (born 2011)

Princess Josephine of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, is a member of the Danish royal family. She is the fourth and youngest child of King Frederik X and Queen Mary, and the seventh grandchild of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik. She is the twin sister of Prince Vincent. Josephine is fourth in line to the Danish throne, after her older siblings, Crown Prince Christian and Princess Isabella, and her elder twin brother, Prince Vincent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Jubilee of Margrethe II</span> 50th anniversary of the Danish monarchs accession

The Golden Jubilee of Margrethe II was celebrated in 2022 in the Kingdom of Denmark, being the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Margrethe II on 14 January 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdication of Margrethe II</span> 2024 succession in the Kingdom of Denmark

Margrethe II announced her abdication as Queen of Denmark during her New Year's Eve address to the nation on 31 December 2023. She was succeeded by her elder son, King Frederik X, on 14 January 2024. Margrethe's abdication was the first voluntary abdication of a Danish monarch since that of King Eric III in 1146.

References

    1. ↑ Hindø, Lone; Boelskifte, Else (2007). Kongelig Dåb. Fjorten generationer ved Rosenborg-døbefonten[Royal Baptisms. Fourteen generations at the Rosenborg baptismal font] (in Danish). Forlaget Hovedland. p. 127. ISBN   978-87-7070-014-6.
    2. 1 2 Petersen, Preben (8 January 2011). "Så store var prins Christian og prinsesse Isabella ved fødslen" [That's how big Prince Christian and Princess Isabella were at birth]. Billed Bladet (in Danish).
    3. ↑ Hindø & Boelskifte 2007, p. 127-128.
    4. ↑ "TRH The Crown Prince Couple: The Christening ceremony". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
    5. ↑ Hindø & Boelskifte 2007, p. 130-131.
    6. ↑ "TRH The Crown Prince Couple: Godfathers and godmothers to the little Prince". Archived from the original on 15 August 2007.
    7. ↑ "Dåbsgave: En glad pony". Jyllands-Posten (in Danish).
    8. ↑ TV2 (11 September 2006). "Prince Christian is Now the Successor". TV2 (in Danish). Retrieved 31 May 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[ permanent dead link ]
    9. ↑ "Succession is Secure" (in Danish). Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
    10. ↑ Skipper, Jon Bloch (20 March 2011). "Hvor går Christian og Isabella i børnehave?" [Where do Christian and Isabella go to kindergarten?]. Billed Bladet (in Danish). Aller Media A/S. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
    11. ↑ Horswill, Ian. "Crown Princess Mary's son Prince Christian turns eight years of age". Courier Mail Brisbane - 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2017. Prince Christian, the eldest of four children - Princess Isabella, aged six; and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, two - is the first member of the Danish Royal Family to attend a public state school.
    12. ↑ "Kronprinsparrets børn begynder i skole i Schweiz efter nytår" (in Danish). TV 2. 30 December 2019. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
    13. ↑ "The Crown Prince Family returns home". Danish royal family. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
    14. ↑ "HRH Prince Christian will attend the gymnasium at Herlufsholm". Danish royal family. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
    15. ↑ "How Denmark's incoming Crown Prince Christian brings teenage energy to monarchy". The Local. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    16. ↑ "Prins Christian og prinsesse Isabella har fundet nye skoler". Berlingske (in Danish). 7 August 2022. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
    17. ↑ Hubbard, Lauren (25 June 2024). "Crown Prince Christian of Denmark Celebrates His High School Graduation". Town & Country. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
    18. ↑ (in Danish) Prins Christian og farfar så elefanterne Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
    19. ↑ (in Danish) Prins Henrik: Flere børnebørn, tak Archived 29 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine
    20. ↑ "Se stolt prins Christian afsløre kongeligt portrætmaleri" (in Danish). Billed Bladet. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
    21. ↑ "HRH Prince Christian's confirmation". Danish royal family. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
    22. ↑ "Dronningen til genforeningsfejring: Vi overlader nu grænsen til unge" (in Danish). Sjællandske Medier. Archived from the original on 6 August 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
    23. ↑ "Ofrene i Field's-skyderi blev mindet under højtidelighed: Se de vigtigste øjeblikke her" (in Danish). DR. 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
    24. 1 2 Hubbard, Lauren (16 October 2023). "The Heirs to the Thrones of Europe Gathered for Prince Christian of Denmark's Glitzy Birthday Celebration". Town & Country . Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
    25. ↑ Petit, Stephanie (16 October 2023). "The Search for a Real-Life Cinderella! Someone Left Their Shoe at the Castle After Prince Christian's Birthday". People . Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
    26. ↑ Skipper, Jon Bloch (14 January 2011). "Can Prince Christian Choose to be Call King Valdemar?". Billed Bladet (in Danish). Aller Media A/S. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
    27. ↑ "Read HM The Queen's New Year Address 2023". kongehuset.dk. 31 December 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024.
    28. ↑ "Background on succession to the throne". kongehuset.dk. 3 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024.
    29. ↑ "Statsråd". kongehuset.dk. 12 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024.
    30. ↑ "Changes in the titles of The Royal Family". kongehuset.dk. 2 January 2024. Archived from the original on 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
    31. ↑ "Kongehuset bekræfter: Kronprins Christian får vigtig funktion i kong Frederiks fravær" [The Royal House confirms: Crown Prince Christian will have an important function in King Frederik's absence]. Billed Bladet (in Danish). Aller Media A/S. 30 January 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    32. ↑ "Kronprins Christian har underskrevet sin første lov" [Crown Prince Christian has signed his first law]. Billed Bladet (in Danish). Aller Media A/S. 2 February 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    33. ↑ "H.K.H. Kronprinsen er regent". Danish royal family. 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    34. ↑ "H.K.H. Kronprinsen er regent". Danish royal family. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
    35. ↑ "Det var uventet: Prins Christian står fadder ved prins Gustav og prinsesse Carinas søns dåb" (in Danish). Billed Bladet. 26 August 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
    36. ↑ "The Crown Prince". Official website of the Danish Monarchy. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
    37. ↑ "HRH The Crown Prince". kongehuset.dk. 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
    38. ↑ "H.K.H. Prins Christian tildeles Elefantordenen" [HRH Prince Christian is bestowed the Order of The Elephant]. Kongehuset.dk (in Danish). 15 October 2023. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
    39. ↑ "Lille prins Christian fik medalje" [Little Prince Christian got a medal]. Ekstra Bladet (in Danish). 19 July 2009. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
    40. 1 2 3 4 5 "H.K.H. Prins Christian — Dekorationer" [HRH Prince Christian — Decoration]. Kongehuset.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
    41. ↑ "Mindemedaille for Prins Henrik" [Prince Henrik's Memorial Medal]. Kongehuset.dk (in Danish). 11 June 2018. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023. Hendes Majestæt Dronningen har i dag den 11. juni 2018 tildelt en mindemedaille for Prins Henrik til den kongelige familie, hoffets medarbejdere og personer, der har bistået på særlig vis ved Prinsens sygdom, død og bisættelse. [Her Majesty the Queen has today, 11 June 2018, awarded Prince Henrik's Memorial Medal to the royal family, court employees and persons who have assisted in a special way during the Prince's illness, death and funeral.]
    42. ↑ "Commemorative medal in connection with the 50th anniversary of HM The Queen's accession to the throne". Kongehuset.dk. 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023. ... the Royal Family, the Court's employees and other individuals have received the Commemorative Medal in connection with the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's accession to the throne.
    43. ↑ "Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer" [Awards of orders and medals]. Det Norske Kongheus (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
    44. ↑ "SCANDINAVIAN AIRLINES TAKES OFF FROM HEATHROW TERMINAL 2". Danish-UK Chamber of Commerce. 12 September 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2017.[ permanent dead link ]
    Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark
    Born: 15 October 2005
    Danish royalty
    Preceded by Crown Prince of Denmark
    2024–present    		Incumbent
    Lines of succession
    First
    		 Succession to the Danish throne
    1st position    		Followed by
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.