Crown Prince Christian of Denmark has temporarily stepped away from his military training to assume a key constitutional role. He's serving as regent while his parents, King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark, are abroad on a state visit to the Baltic states.
On Tuesday, January 27, King Frederik and Queen Mary were welcomed in Estonia by the Prime Minister Kristen Michal and his wife, Evelin Oras. In accordance with Danish royal protocol, the Crown Prince became acting Head of State for the duration of the trip, which runs through Wednesday, January 29, and includes a stop in Lithuania.
"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," reads a statement from the Danish Royal House.
On his first day as regent, Prince Christian prepared official documents for signature, including the formal confirmation of adopted legislation. He carried out these duties during a briefing held at the Slagelse barracks, as reported by the palace.
Not his first time as regent
This is not Prince Christian’s first stint as his father’s stand-in. In 2024, two weeks after Frederik X ascended the throne, Christian served as regent for two days while the King was on an official visit to Poland. Then, in early 2025, he took on the role during a private trip by his parents.
Danish law requires a regent whenever the ruling monarch is outside the country. Those eligible to serve include the Crown Prince, Queen Mary, his grandmother Queen Margrethe II, and his aunt Princess Benedikte. While regents do not hold all of the Crown's powers, they may sign laws, hold audiences, and, if necessary, appoint or dismiss ministers.
These regencies are typically brief but serve as valuable preparation and experience for Prince Christian’s future as Head of State. As Queen Margrethe remarked on his 18th birthday, his path is set as “a link in the long historical chain that has united our country for centuries.”
Service with the Royal Guard
Last week, it was announced that the Crown Prince would serve with the Royal Guard, continuing his military path that began with the Guard Hussar Regiment in February of last year. After completing his lieutenant training, Prince Christian is set to serve as a platoon commander for active-duty conscripts in August 2026 at the Guard Barracks in Hovelte.
To fulfill his duties as regent, the Royal House noted that “the Crown Prince, who is training to become a lieutenant, therefore took a break today from his daily exercises.”
Prince Christian swore on the Constitution two years ago
In November 2023, Prince Christian swore allegiance to Denmark’s Constitution in a historic ceremony at Christiansborg Palace, before Queen Margrethe and King Frederik X. The special occasion brought three generations of the direct line of succession together for the first time in the monarchy’s history. By pledging to uphold the nation’s fundamental law, he formally committed to his royal duties.
He became the first adult heir in more than a century to be eligible to serve as regent, demonstrating a steady command of the responsibilities that come with leading the state.