Queen Mary and King Frederick of Denmark have shared a sweet photo of their eldest son, Crown Prince Christian, wishing him a happy 19th birthday.
The Danish royal family took to Instagram to wish their son, heir to the throne of Denmark and dubbed “Europe’s most eligible bachelor,” a happy birthday.
He is currently spending a sabbatical in an undisclosed location in East Africa.
Mary and Frederik posted a sweet photo of their son, who glowed in a beige khaki shirt while standing behind a beautiful backdrop lit by the setting sun.
In the touching post, Christian’s parents affectionately wrote: “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince turns 19 today.
“The Crown Prince is currently in East Africa and so celebrates the day under warmer skies.”
Queen Mary and King Frederick of Denmark have shared a sweet photo of their eldest son, Crown Prince Christian (pictured), wishing him a happy 19th birthday.
Prince Christian was photographed with his father, King Frederik, in August while they supported the Danish men’s handball team at the Olympic Games earlier this year.
The Danish teenager is currently embarking on an “extended stay” in East Africa, after graduating from high school earlier this year. It arrived in the African region at the beginning of September.
In a statement released by the Danish royal family via Instagram earlier this year, they revealed that the Prince would be spending a busy four months on the continent.
They wrote: “On September 4, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will undertake an extended stay in East Africa,” the statement said.
‘There the Crown Prince will participate in the daily operation of two farms, which will include, among other things, practical and administrative tasks, and will also provide the Crown Prince with information on the protection of local nature.
“The plan is for the Crown Prince to return to Denmark in December.”
Following his father’s succession, Prince Christian is now first in line to the Danish throne after his grandmother, Queen Margaret, ended her historic 52-year reign in January.
After Christian left for East Africa, his doting mother admitted she would struggle not having her son around for the next few months.
At a ceremony in Copenhagen before his departure, she said: “We are going to miss him unimaginably… very, very much.”
Wishing the prince a happy birthday, several social media users commented on their congratulations to the Danish royals.
One wrote: “Huge CONGRATULATIONS, what a beautiful photo of a handsome Crown Prince.”
A second said: ‘Congratulations, how happy you look.’
Another wrote: ”Awesome image! It radiates all that Africa can do and how happy our Crown Prince looks. He’s such a lovely, happy young man, Christian! I’ve followed him since he was born. It has a very special place in my royal heart. Enjoy your stay and your (short) freedom, dear Crown Prince Christian.’
Crown Prince Christian of Denmark, first in line to the throne, is in East Africa on an “extended stay”
The heir to the throne (pictured with Queen Mary and King Frederick on graduation day) will return to Denmark in December.
However, she added that both she and King Frederick are excited for him and “look forward” to hearing about his travels upon his return.
Prince Christian’s upcoming trip to East Africa will be part of a “long tradition” in the royal family, whose heirs are sent abroad “during their youth” to learn more about themselves and “experience the world,” the message continued.
The statement highlighted King Frederik’s “Mongolian expedition” in 1986… focused on nomads, as well as a year-long period of work “in a vineyard in California.”
His mother, Her Majesty Queen Margaret, also “undertook longer voyages to East and South America” in the 1960s.
“The King, Queen and Crown Prince hope that there is an understanding that the stay abroad remains a private matter from beginning to end,” the family urged to respect Christian’s privacy during his travels.
“For this reason, no further details about the stay will be made public,” the statement concludes.
Royal family fans wished the Crown Prince a “productive, private and enjoyable experience” in the comments section.
The Palace announced on its Instagram account Prince Christian’s ‘extended stay’ in East Africa to work on a farm
Queen Mary, King Frederick and their children, their daughter Princess Elizabeth and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, were all smiles at the future king’s high school graduation ceremony in Copenhagen in June of 2024.
The royal family formed a united front at the Ordrup Gymnasium in Gentofte, as Prince Christian took part and joined his classmates in a parade to celebrate the end of school over the holidays.
Queen Mary, 52, took photos of her adult son, dressed in a gray patterned shirt, white trousers and slate gray sneakers for the function.
She completed her outfit with a classic Danish graduation hat that is traditionally placed on a student’s head by family members at the end of their final exams, Town & Country Mag reported.
The Queen of Denmark looked happy and relaxed in a summery outfit, consisting of a crisp white shirt and a floral midi skirt by Zimmermann.
Meanwhile, King Frederik, 56, paired a navy jacket with khaki pants and an Oxford shirt, as seen in photos of the royal family shared on Instagram.
The title of the post read: “Today it was the turn of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to experience the very special feeling of freedom that the student cap brings.
‘But it’s not just the students who are looking forward to it. The Danish tradition also encompasses family and friends, which could also be seen today in the Ordrup Gymnasium.’
At the time, it was widely reported that the Crown Prince, now one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors, would go to university in August, while completing his military training in preparation to rule after his father.
