Christian became the Crown Prince of Denmark following his father King Frederik’s accession to the throne. Months before his paternal grandmother Queen Margrethe abdicated in 2024, she told her grandson at his 18th birthday gala dinner (translated to English), “Dear Christian, your 18th birthday is an important day, with it you come of age, just as it happens for all other young Danes. But there is still a difference. Your path in life is already set, for one day you will follow your father, just as he will follow me one day. You become a link in the long historical chain that has bound our country together for centuries.”
Queen Margrethe noted in her remarks that Christian’s “apprenticeship only begins here, regardless of what you choose to do.” She said, “You have good skills, you are physically active and you are aware of your responsibilities. You have empathy, you have always shown that, not least towards your siblings. The good qualities that you possess and the ballast that you bring from home will follow you everywhere.”
So, just who is the heir to the Danish throne? Continue reading to learn all about Crown Prince Christian of Denmark.
1. He was born in 2005 at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark.
2. He is the eldest of King Frederik and Queen Mary ’s children.
3. His full name is Christian Valdemar Henri John. Mary and Frederik followed tradition by naming their firstborn Christian. According to CBS News, “Denmark has a four-century-old tradition of alternating between Christian and Frederik as names of Danish kings.”
4. Christian is a big brother. He has three younger siblings: Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.
5. His godparents include Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, his uncle Prince Joachim of Denmark, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece. The Danish Prince was christened in 2006 at the Christiansborg Palace Chapel.
6. He became the Crown Prince of Denmark at 18 years old on Jan. 14. 2024.
7. He is currently first in line to the Danish throne.
8. Christian obtained his driver’s license in 2023.
9. He became a godfather to Prince Gustav Albrecht zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, son of Prince Gustav and Princess Carina zu-Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, in 2023.
10. He was a page boy at Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden’s royal wedding in 2010.
11. He started at Ordrup Gymnasium in Gentofte in 2022. Prince Christian previously studied at Herlufsholm, but the Crown Prince Couple removed their firstborn from the boarding school amid allegations of bullying at Herlufsholm.
At his 18th birthday gala dinner in 2023, the Crown Prince admitted that he was "nervous" about starting at a new school. He said (translated to English): "Last summer I had to start 2nd grade at a new high school. I was nervous. Really nervous. Everyone in my new class had known each other for a year. I was the new him. So there I was, with a high pulse and a dry mouth, on the threshold of something new. I got over myself, got to say 'hello' and introduce myself to my new classmates. They welcomed me and one step at a time I got to know the tone, the routines and the other students. Today it is hard to understand what I was so nervous about."
12. It was announced in June of 2023 that Christian’s main priority was focusing on his studies and that he was turning down a royal allowance for the time being. The Danish Royal House said at the time that an “agreement with The Prime Minister’s Office that support in the Danish Parliament for a law concerning an annuity will first be sought when the Prince turns 21 or upon a possible throne succession, if that takes place beforehand.”
“ Only after this time will it be expected that His Royal Highness will enter into official contexts to a greater extent. However, that depends on where the Prince is at that point in his education,” the Royal House continued. “Until then, Prince Christian will participate in official contexts to a limited extent, similar to now.”
13. The Crown Prince graduated from Ordrup Gymnasium on June 28, 2024. Christian's proud parents and younger siblings were present when he was presented with his diploma. Days before his graduation, the Danish Prince received his student cap, which according to the Museum of Danish America, symbolizes that the individual wearing the cap has passed their final exam in high school and is now qualified to study at a university.
14. In September of 2024, Christian went abroad for an extended stay in East Africa, where he was involved in the daily operation of two farms. When it was announced that the Crown Prince would be going abroad, the Royal House pointed out that in the royal family "there is a long tradition that the successors to the throne go on extended stays abroad during their youth and have the opportunity to develop and experience the world."
Prior to returning home to Denmark, Christian opened up about his time in Africa in a personal message. "For almost three months I have been in East Africa. Everyday life down here is completely different from at home. The food, the culture, the climate, the wildlife, the tasks and the people make it an experience I will never forget," he shared (translated to English). "In recent weeks I have been working with nature conservation. I help monitor and register animals in the bush and look after the office on the farm."
Christian also revealed that he had gotten "very close to the wild animals when they have their GPS collars replaced under anesthesia," and learned "a lot about life down" there and "helped build new houses for the employees," plus "played some good football matches with the locals."
15. The future King arrived at the Guard Hussar Regiment (Gardehusarregimentet) in February of 2025 to begin his military service. As part of his service, Christian completed the mandatory REX tour in May of 2025. "We are a lot of young people from very different parts of the country, who have all gotten along really well with each other. Almost from the first week I think there was a lot of enthusiasm for getting to know new people. No one thought 'No, I don't want to.' So I'm very happy with the camaraderie in here. You can see that it binds you closer together when you are part of what we do," the Crown Prince said in a short film about his four-day REX trip (translated to English).
16. The Danish Royal House announced in May of 2025 that Christian, now a Guards Hussar, had been admitted to the Lieutenant's Training Course. "The training starts in early August 2025 and lasts one year plus a subsequent period of practical service as a platoon leader," the Royal House said (translated to English). "The Crown Prince will complete his ongoing military service with the Guard Hussar Regiment at the end of May."
In May of 2025, the heir to the throne said, "The future holds the end of this period as a conscript and then even more military time in the Lieutenant's Training here in Slagelse. I'm really looking forward to that."