Being second-in-line to the Danish throne, people have always been curious about the eldest son of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary: Prince Christian of Denmark.
Many are also drawn in by his charm and good looks, proof that he has clearly inherited his father’s handsome features and his mother’s good humour.
So who is Prince Christian, and how has the 18-year-old, who is half-Australian half-Danish, flown under the radar until now?
There’s no question that Prince Christian inherited both of his parents’ good looks.
We’ve uncovered everything you need to know about this dashing young royal as he gears up to one day be king.
Keep reading for all the details about Princess Mary and Prince Frederik’s eldest son.
When was Prince Christian born?
The first child of Prince Frederik and Princess Mary, Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John was born on October 15, 2005.
Mary gave birth just before 2am at in Rigshospitalet, the Copenhagen University Hospital, in Denmark.
In his first few days, Christian suffered from neonatal jaundice that gave his skin a slight yellow tinge.
The condition is fairly common and usually harmless, but he was examined by doctors and received light treatment before making a full recovery.
As the first Danish royal heir born since his father in 1968, there was much celebration around Denmark – and some in Australia – when Christian arrived.
Princess Mary gave birth to her first son on October 15, 2005.
Why is Prince Christian’s name special?
Frederik and Mary followed royal tradition when naming their son.
In Denmark, each king alternates between the names Frederik and Christian, meaning a son born to Crown Prince Frederik would be called – you guessed it – Christian.
If Prince Christian grows up to have a son of his own, he could choose to continue the tradition and name the child Frederik.
In a touching tribute to her Australian roots, Princess Mary also gave a nod to her father John Donaldson in Christian’s middle name.
Prince Christian was christened on January 21, 2006 in a special royal ceremony.
What was Prince Christian’s childhood like?
Christian was baptised at just over three months old, on January 21, 2006, in Christiansborg Palace Chapel.
Months later, the royal bub would make his first visit to Australia at the end of 2006, when he was just over a year old.
However, Mary and Frederik chose to keep their son’s upbringing relatively private in his early years.
Their 2006 visit to Australia was a private one, with the young family travelling to Tasmania to visit Mary’s relatives rather than undertaking an official royal tour.
In fact, it wasn’t until 2012 that Prince Christian would attend his first official royal engagement with his grandmother, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark.
Just six years old at the time, the young royal stole hearts across Denmark and Australia.
Mary and Frederik broke tradition by sending their eldest son to a public school.
Where did Prince Christian attend school?
Mary and Frederik broke away from Danish royal tradition when they decided to enrol their son at preschool in 2007.
He is the first Danish royal heir to attend preschool and went on to break more traditions when he started “big school” in 2011.
That year, Christian became the first Danish royal to attend a public state school – Tranegårdskolen in Hellerup. It caused quite a stir at the time but now that all of his younger siblings followed suit and also attended Tranegårdskolen, it’s much more accepted.
At the start of 2020, all four of the royal children – Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine – began what was supposed to be a 12-week program at the Lemania-Verbier International School in Switzerland.
However, just weeks into their studies the coronavirus pandemic hit and their parents soon withdrew them and returned to Denmark.
Christian then attended the boarding school Herlufsholm School in Næstved, but was transferred to Ordrup Gymnasium in 2022 when allegations of sexual abuse and bullying were made against Herlufsholm. The prince is set to graduate from Ordrup in May 2024.
What have Prince Christian’s parents said about the young royal?
Prince Frederik opened up about his son’s arrival in the days after Christian was born, revealing he cried when Mary delivered their son.
“You don’t stand there and act like Superman,” he told the newspaper BT.
“We [men] can’t in our wildest dreams imagine what happens for the woman.”
Frederik also told reporters that baby Christian would sleep “within an arm’s length” of his and Mary’s bed.
Meanwhile, Princess Mary has kept mum about, well, being a mum.
Though it’s obvious that she adores each of her children and shares a special bond with her eldest son, she rarely share details with the public about Christian.
Frederik and Mary clearly shared a special bond with their eldest son from his youngest years.
Will Prince Christian be King one day?
Yes! Christian is currently second in line to the Danish throne after his father.
Prince Frederik will take up the role of King of Denmark from January 14, 2024, now that his mother Queen Margrethe II has abdicated.
And when that happens, Christian will become his heir apparent and ramp up his training to one day be king.
Although, with that being said. his training is already underway.
In November 2023, shortly after Christian came of age, he made a solemn declaration that he will abide by the Constitution. The occasion actually marked for the first time in more than 100 years, there are now both a successor to the Danish throne and an heir to the throne of legal age who can step in as regent.
His younger sister Princess Isabella is currently third in line to the throne after Christian, but when he has children she will be bumped down.
