Denmark: Siltanews – News Desk
The 19-year-old future king is marking the dawn of a new royal era as he follows in his father’s footsteps after returning from East Africa.
Crown Prince Christian of Denmark made his debut at the Danish royal New Year’s celebration at Amalienborg Palace on 1 January, 2025
Crown Prince Christian of Denmark marked the start of a new royal era, as he joined Queen Mary and King Frederik for his first ever New Year’s levée at Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen.
The annual court and banquet is a glamorous tradition for the Danish royal family, and this year marked the first time that Frederik and Mary have hosted as king and queen, following the abdication of Queen Margrethe in 2023. The former monarch was in attendance for the festivities, alongside Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and Princess Benedikte.
All eyes, however, were on the heir to the throne, as 19-year-old Prince Christian made his debut at the New Year’s celebration. Fresh from a ‘gap year’ spent volunteering in East Africa, the Crown Prince is set to follow in his father King Frederik’s footsteps, announcing in November that he would soon be enlisting in the military.
The 19-year-old future king, who has recently returned from volunteering in East Africa, wore his Order of the Elephant Collar and Star for the festivities. And now it seems that Christian truly is learning the ins and outs of royal duties. As Denmark’s top government power players gathered at the palace alongside the royal court, the future king looked regal in White Tie, with the Collar and Star of the Order of the Elephant taking pride of place amid his dapper attire.
Christian was bestowed the honour of becoming a Knight of the Order of the Elephant on his 18th birthday on 15 October 2023. In April 2024, he joined his father King Frederik and Grandmother Queen Margrethe for a ceremony which saw his coat of arms added to the Knights’ Chapel for the Orders of the Elephant.
Though the Order of the Elephant was officially founded in 1693, the order dates all the way back to the 1400s, when it was established as a religious confraternity by a group of about fifty Danish knights. Between 1580 and today, around 890 persons have been bestowed with the Order of the Elephant; with Queen Margrethe adding 68 people during her 40 year reign. The recipients are almost always royal persons and foreign heads of state – though in a rare exception, the order was given to a commoner in 2000.