Franne Voigt
Prince Christianof Denmark can look forward to quite the birthday party this fall!
On Tuesday, the Danish Royal House announced the official plans for the prince’s 18th birthday on Oct. 15 and released new portraits. Prince Christian is second in line to the Danish throne behind his father,Crown Prince Frederik, while his grandmother isQueen Margrethe, and the court will mark the milestone will two events held one month apart.
The gala that evening at Christiansborg Castle will welcome reps from some of Denmark’s youth organizations plus young people “who have distinguished themselves in the world of sport, art and culture.” Extending the guest list, the Royal Palace will work with local municipalities to coordinate invitations for around 200 young people from the Danish Commonwealth, giving each of Denmark’s municipalities, Greenland and the Faroe Islands the opportunity to invite two 18-year-old guests to the party.
In June 2022, agalaforPrincess Ingrid Alexandraof Norway’s 18th birthday gathered royals from around the world to celebrate. Three other future queens and a future grand duke — Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Princess Estelle of Sweden and Prince Charles of Luxembourg — posed with the birthday girl for a portrait.
The event also served as the tiara debut for Princess Catharina-Amalia and Princess Elisabeth.
The festivities continue one month later and take a more formal turn. On Nov. 14, Prince Christian will attend a meeting of the Council of State (which is comprised of government ministers) and declare that he wishes to comply with the Danish constitution.
“Prince Christian will then be able to be appointed as head of state. Prince Christian will not get a seat in the Council of State until a change of throne has taken place,” the Danish Royal House said of the step.
Just likeKing Charlesand the British royals, members of the Danish royal family traditionally fête special occasions like birthdays and regnal milestones with balcony appearances and glittering galas. The Danish royal family most recently came together for Queen Margrethe’s83rd birthday in April, where she stepped out on the terrace of Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen with her two sons, their wives and all eight of her grandchildren.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark with her grandchildren at the balcony of Amalienborg Palace in honor of her 83rd birthday.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
The photo op was poignant as it marked the first time the Queen was seen with all of her family since shestrippedPrince Joachim’s four children of their royal titles earlier this year. A father of four, Prince Joachim, 54, shares his two eldest sons, Nikolai, 23, and Felix, 21, with his first wife Alexandra. They divorced in 2005 after a decade of marriage, and Joachim remarried in 2008. He and Princess Marie went on to welcome two children — Henrik, 13, and Athena, 11.
Count Felix, Princess Marie, Prince Joachim, Countess Athena, Count Henrik and Count Nikolai.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Prince Joachimspoke out to the pressabout the way the situation was handled, claiming that he received “five days' notice” of the major shakeup and that his whole family was “very sad.” Queen Margrethelater madeanother statement saying she “underestimated” how the news would affect her second son and his kids, but she maintained that the plans were long in motion and stripping the royal titles was “necessary future-proofing of the monarchy.”
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Princess Marie and Prince Joachim attend a gala at Christiansborg Palace.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Embracing change, the Danish Royal Houseannouncedin March that Joachim and Marie are moving to Washington, D.C. on Sept. 1. Prince Joachim is set to start a new job at the Danish Embassy under the Ministry of Defense, helping strengthen the defense industrial cooperation with the United States and Canada. As the palace said the prince and his “family” will make the move, Count Henrik and Countess Athena are expected to join their parents.
While Count Felix has kept his plans for the fall private, Count Nikolai is embracing a new adventure —studying aboardin Australia!
source: people.com
