Queen Mary is the proud mum as Crown Prince Christian appointed Second Lieutenant

There is a natural curiosity about European royals heir apparent’s – the eldest son of King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark, Crown Prince Christian is certainly not free of this intrigue.

Crown Prince Christian, half-Australian and half-Danish, turned 21 on October 15, 2026. This is a huge milestone as an individual, but also a significant moment in his journey to becoming King.

Prior to his milestone birthday, Crown Prince Christian shared his thoughts on ruling Denmark in the future.

“It’s surreal for me to think about it,” Christian told Politiken. “I’m about to turn 21, and I know that this is what my future holds, among other things. I’ve known it from a young age and have been prepared for the task by my parents.”

Christian has now moved out of the Palace at Amalienborg, and has his own apartment adjacent to the family’s residence in Copenhagen.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Princess Mary and Prince Frederik’s eldest son.

Credit: Kongehuset ©️

Inside Crown Prince Christian’s military training:

In February 2025, the 20-year-old royal began his four months of military duties at the Antvorskov barracks in Slagelse, Denmark. His father, King Frederik, also served in the military as part of the infantry regiment of the Royal Life Guards and the Royal Frogmen Corps, which is a special forces division of the Danish Navy.

Christian completed his service with the Gardehusarregimentet (Guard Hussar Regiment). While in the regiment, he was treated similarly to his cohort; however, they received a salary, and the young Prince did not.

More than a year later in June 2026, Christian became a Second Lieutenant (or sekondløjtnant in Danish). Meaning he officially became a commissioned officer in the Danish Army.

A second lieutenant is the entry-level officer rank in the Danish Army and Air Force. Officers at this rank are responsible for leading and managing soldiers, rather than serving as enlisted personnel themselves.

Now that the Crown Prince has completed his lieutenant training course, he will continue his military service with the Danish Army’s Royal Life Guards. Queen Mary was the typical proud mum as she embraced her son and snapped some pics of him as she watched the parade.

Photo by Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images

Photo by Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images

Photo by Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Images

In August 2026, he began serving as a platoon leader, responsible for the training and day-to-day management of conscripts (military recruits).

For royal-watchers, the milestone is significant because it follows a long tradition of Scandinavian heirs to the throne undertaking military service. Christian’s father, King Frederik X, also served in the military and underwent officer training.

Earlier this year, Prince Christian temporarily stepped away from his military training and served as regent as his parents, Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark, were attending a state visit in the Baltic states.

“When His Majesty the King stays outside the realm, it is basically His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who as regent enters the role of Head of State,” a statement from the Danish Royal House read.

On his first day as regent, the palace reported that Prince Christian prepared official documents for signature. During a very frosty visit to Lithuania, Queen Mary spoke to the media about her son acting as regent.

“We have many different assignments, so it’s nice that Christian can now step in and fulfil some of the assignments,” Queen Mary said.

(Credit: Getty Images)

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 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. However, 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 in Denmark when Christian was born. And in Australia, too, of course!

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. This means a son born to Crown Prince Frederik had to be called 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, then- 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.

The royal bub made his first visit to Australia at the end of 2006, just before his first birthday.

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.

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 was 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 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 Herlufsholm School in Næstved. However, he transferred to Ordrup Gymnasium in 2022 when allegations of sexual abuse and bullying were made against the boarding school. The prince graduated from Ordrup in June 2024.

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What have Prince Christian’s parents said about the young royal?

Days after Christian was born, King Frederik revealed 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.

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 first in line to the Danish throne.

Prince Frederik became King of Denmark on January 14, 2024, after his mother, Queen Margrethe II, abdicated .

After his father’s ascension to the throne, Christian became his heir apparent and ramped up his training to one day be king.

In November 2023, shortly after Christian came of age, he made a solemn declaration that he would abide by the Constitution. It marked the first time in 100 years that there would be a successor and an heir to the throne of legal age who could step in as regent.

His younger sister, Princess Isabella, is currently second in line to the throne after Christian. However, if Christian has children, Isabella moves down the succession line.

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