Denmark’s heir to the throne, Crown Prince Christian, will take a “gap year” before going to university, it has been confirmed.
The 18-year-old son of King Frederick and Queen Mary will embark on an “extended stay in East Africa” next month, shortly after Prince Christian graduates from high school, according to a statement posted on the royal family’s official Instagram account on Friday, August 30.
During his stay in the region, Christian will carry out “practical and administrative” work while working on “two farms,” they added, but declined to disclose further details about his four-month itinerary.
“On 4 September, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will embark on an extended stay in East Africa,” the statement said.
‘There, the Crown Prince will be involved in the daily operation of two farms, which will, among other things, include practical and administrative tasks, and will also provide the Crown Prince with information on local nature protection.
Denmark’s Crown Prince Christian, first in line to the throne, will travel to East Africa in a few days for an “extended stay”
‘The plan is for the Crown Prince to return to Denmark in December.’
Queen Mary, King Frederik and their children, daughter Princess Elisabeth and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, were all smiles at the future king’s high school graduation ceremony, which will be held in Copenhagen in June 2024.
The royal family was seen together at the Ordrup Gymnasium in Gentofte, where Prince Christian took part with his peers in a parade to celebrate the end of school during the festive season.
Following his father’s succession, Prince Christian is now first in line to the Danish throne after his grandmother Queen Margrethe ended her historic 52-year reign in January.
She celebrated her 18th birthday last October with a royal gala dinner at Christiansborg Castle, attended by royals including Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway and Princess Estelle of Sweden.
The heir to the throne (pictured with Queen Mary and King Frederick on his graduation day) will return to Denmark in December.
The Palace announced on its Instagram account that Prince Christian is going to East Africa to work on a farm.
Prince Christian’s upcoming trip to East Africa will be part of a “long-standing 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 Frederick’s “Mongolian expedition in 1986…focusing on nomads,” as well as a one-year stint working “on a vineyard in California.”
His mother, Her Majesty Queen Margaret, also “made longer trips to East and South America” in the 1960s.
“The King, Queen and Crown Prince hope there is an understanding that the stay abroad will remain a private matter from start to finish,” the family urged to respect Christian’s privacy for the duration of his travels.
“For this reason, no further details regarding the stay will be made public,” the statement concluded.
Royal family fans wished the Crown Prince a “productive, private and enjoyable experience” in the comments section.
“I hope you have a wonderful trip. I spent several months of my youth interning in the southern part of Africa and it was very inspiring and educational,” one person wrote on Instagram.
“Africa is incredibly exciting and educational,” read another translated comment. “(The trip) is something you will remember with pleasure.”
A third Instagram user added: “Enjoy every minute of this amazing experience.”
The proud parents, King Frederik and Queen Mary, were beaming with pride at Prince Christian’s graduation ceremony on 25 June 2024.
Queen Mary, 52, took pictures of her adult son, wearing a grey patterned shirt, white trousers and slate grey trainers for the event.
She completed her outfit with a classic Danish graduation hat that family members traditionally place on students’ heads at the end of their final exams, Town & Country Mag reported.
The Queen of Denmark looked happy and relaxed in a summery ensemble consisting of an elegant white shirt and a floral midi skirt by Zimmermann.
Meanwhile, King Frederik, 56, paired a navy blazer with khaki trousers and an Oxford shirt, as seen in photos of the royal family shared on Instagram.
The caption of the post read: ‘Today it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s turn to experience the very special feeling of freedom that the student cap gives.
“But it’s not just the students who are looking forward to it. Danish tradition also includes family and friends, which was also evident today at the Ordrup Gymnasium.”
At the time, it was widely reported that the Crown Prince, now one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors, would head off to university in August as he completes his military training in preparation to rule after his father.