Christian, Isabella, Vincent and Josephine, News Part 3: November 2015 -

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by girlbudapest1

some of media tell, that prince christian seems to be very careless and he don't care about monarchy, but I don't believe it. Danish media say also that princess Isabella can be a huge support for him and prince Vincent and Josephine can live in private life. What do you think? Who will be their spouses? What is your opinion about danish royals's life in 2030s?

Who at that particular age would care a lot about an institution? Many now settled heirs and Kings, being 17, like anybody else, had other things on their minds or perhaps even struggled with the perspective! I think what they care about is the structure they are used since their birth, their family etc. That does not mean they are against the monarchy but, again like anyone else, the focus is different (personal interests, friends, first love, education, sports, stuff like that) and still has to mature.

[Archduchess Zelia]

Originally Posted by girlbudapest1

some of media tell, that prince christian seems to be very careless and he don't care about monarchy, but I don't believe it. Danish media say also that princess Isabella can be a huge support for him and prince Vincent and Josephine can live in private life. What do you think? Who will be their spouses? What is your opinion about danish royals's life in 2030s?

What exactly is the source for that?

I feel I follow the Danish media pretty close and I don't recall any of them saying that

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

Who at that particular age would care a lot about an institution? Many now settled heirs and Kings, being 17, like anybody else, had other things on their minds or perhaps even struggled with the perspective! I think what they care about is the structure they are used since their birth, their family etc. That does not mean they are against the monarchy but, again like anyone else, the focus is different (personal interests, friends, first love, education, sports, stuff like that) and still has to mature.

It should be added that Christian, unlike other similar-aged royals like Leonor, is not the heir apparent yet. He is only second in line. So there is no need for him to take up royal duties prematurely (like Felipe as Prince of Asturias, who made his first official overseas trip alone when he was only 15).

And, as I said, I also think the Danish royal family is comparatively more relaxed and takes things more slowly. Denmark is a small country and the royal workload is comparatively lighter. Christian has plenty of time and room to concentrate on the things you said (sports, education, socializing, girlfriends, etc.) before he has to step up.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by Archduchess Zelia

What exactly is the source for that?

I feel I follow the Danish media pretty close and I don't recall any of them saying that

Agree. I haven't seen or heard anything about this either.

[JR76]

Originally Posted by Archduchess Zelia

What exactly is the source for that?

I feel I follow the Danish media pretty close and I don't recall any of them saying that

Originally Posted by Muhler

Agree. I haven't seen or heard anything about this either.

Neither have I. Although Swedish I keep myself updated on both regular Danish news and the royal news through TV, papers and podcasts and I've never heard anything about Prince Christian being careless or disrespectful about his future position. If he did we'd not even have this discussion since a certain reporter would be all over it.

[Blog Real]

Prince Christian must already be well aware of his role in the monarchy and in his country.
I never read anything in the Danish press about Christian not caring about the monarchy. I believe Christian cares about the monarchy and the role he will have to play in his country.
But Christian is still a 17-year-old. But we still haven't seen any interviews with Christian nor know his opinions. Maybe when Christian turns 18 in October...

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Blog Real

Prince Christian must already be well aware of his role in the monarchy and in his country.
I never read anything in the Danish press about Christian not caring about the monarchy. I believe Christian cares about the monarchy and the role he will have to play in his country.
But Christian is still a 17-year-old. But we still haven't seen any interviews with Christian nor know his opinions. Maybe when Christian turns 18 in October...

The Danish RF is not under the same kind of stress that other RFs live in. Denmark is a small, quiet and wealthy country. The monarchy is popular and the republican movement is not significant. The controversy about the titles of Prince Joachim’s children was really the first big public embarrassment for the Queen in many years, the antics of her deceased husband notwithstanding.

In an environment like that, Christian could even afford to be “ careless” for a while, but I am not saying that he is or that the media think he is.

I feel like Christian is a bit of blank page right now. We have seen him so far only at photo shoots, parties, concerts, soccer / basketball/ handball games , or other sports-related activities. He definitely looks and acts like a teenage boy, but he is only 17 anyway. We really don’t know what he thinks about any more “ serious” issues or about his constitutional role, but I don’t think there is much public interest to know that at this point anyway.

As I said, he benefits from being a member of a relaxed royal family in a relatively carefree country. Other royal teens do not have the same luck.

I apologize if I am stereotyping, but I am just sharing my personal impression.

[kalnel]

I have the opposite impression of Christian. He seems to be a serious and poised young man. In video where he's performing an official duty with his parents, he seems focused and engaged.

In fact, all the current heirs seem to be self-confident and mature. They'll make gaffes and have private moments become public, but I don't get a negative vibe from any of them.

[polyesco]

I think Christian has done quite well so far seeing that he is only 17 and not the heir yet.
He has done events with either one of his parents and answered press questions.
Last summer during the memorial for shooting victims.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfpLY81j..._web_copy_link
https://youtu.be/psMSTOO6L20

During the reunification celebrations it was him with the Queen and Crown Prince
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQDuvemA..._web_copy_link

He seems a bit more confident then Frederik at that age but then again at 17 Frederik was the heir and didn't have the best hands on support he needed.

He seems a caring older brother too at numerous occasions.

[Adda]

I agree, Prince Christian aka Mini John Donaldson aka Lilleprinsen, seems to be level-headed and poised. I particularly like how caring he seems to be of his siblings. I'm pretty sure Frederik is making sure his heir is trained properly and feels heard, so as not to feel lost like he did.

He has a private IG account (just like Felix) and no drama has come out of there. So, he is aware of his position.

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by JR76

Neither have I. Although Swedish I keep myself updated on both regular Danish news and the royal news through TV, papers and podcasts and I've never heard anything about Prince Christian being careless or disrespectful about his future position. If he did we'd not even have this discussion since a certain reporter would be all over it.

A certain reporter, among other, already has.

It was IIRC in connection with the celebrations of QMII that Christian posed with his family and there he seemingly made a handsignal. A wasn't a rude gesture more like a Herlufsholm greeting.
Perhaps slightly inappropriate when the royal roadshow is on and there were a few remarks that he shouldn't make a habit of it.
But he was sixteen or so, and who hasn't done something a little silly at sixteen?
There have also been reports that he has been partying and drinking beer. Again, he's a teen and Danish teens drink - in fact they are infamous for it, but that's another discussion.
There have also been reports that he is not in want of attention from the girls - well, there's a surprise!

- That is the wildest I have heard about Christian.

Apart from that I have a genuine good impression of him.
He's a bright lad.
No snob. At least not openly.
A caring brother and a loving son.
Confident and at ease with being the spotlight. Able to answer in an intelligent and sensible manner.
He seems to have very good social skills.
I'll label him an extrovert from the little I really know about his personality.
He clearly seems to be very aware of who he is and his role, also in the future.

But of course it may just be a facade. He may be an obnoxious party prince.
That'll be taken out of him, once he's in boot camp though.
He may associate the wrong crowd and do stupid things, but so far there haven't been any reports of that. And keep in mind that both Frederik and Joachim were crucified by the public when they went to high school and were in a group that caused some disturbance at a celebration at the high school. If Christian pulled a similar stunt we would already know about it.

But as some of you have pointed out, there will be loads of portraits and interviews and documentaries about Christian when he turns eighteen. So in six months we will really know who he is.

ADDED: The infamous hand signal:
https://www.bt.dk/royale/konspiratio...ere-det-til-en

[Muhler]

Let's talk a little bit about Christian's education.

He is going to graduate from high school next summer, still being eighteen. And that's about the age where all Danish males (no female conscription, yet. But it's coming, so look out Isabella) are called up for the draft board.
Considering that Christian seems to be healthy and fit and of sound mind as well as bright, he should have no problem volunteering for conscription, which in the order 98% + of all conscripts in DK do.
A stint in the military is expected of him.
That means boot camp, followed by NCO school and then the officers academy graduating as first lieutenant.
He will go through all that in one branch of the military, whatever that may be. And then do a couple of short stints in the two other branches. That may be later or as a kind of crash course after having graduated as first lieutenant.
- Frederik did his basics at the Royal Lifeguard, then served as a platoon commander in a recon squadron of the Guards Hussars when he had become a first lieutenant. Then he sniffed a little around the air force before finding his home in the navy.

So in my estimation, when Christian is about 22 or so, it's time for university.

And that's where it becomes interesting and much more open.
Frederik studied political science at Aarhus University. Given that Frederik and QMII studied in Aarhus and liked it and it also means that he has to move away from mom and dad, I think it's likely Christian will study there as well. There is also, at least in eastern Jutland, a hope bordering on expectation that Christian will study in Aarhus - it also means a deeper connection with DK outside Copenhagen and that does matter!
Frederik also studied in USA, Harvard IIRC. (Can't remember off hand what he studied though.)
At some point, perhaps when he is around 30 or so, he is likely to study at the military academy again, the staff school, before he can be promoted to major.
He is also pretty much expected to take a gap year and do some traveling, that's ancient custom. It's a formative part of his education apart from also being an adventure, hopefully. Also, all Danish young people who can, go abroad on a gap year. - I think he will do that after leaving the military or after he has completed his first degree at a university.

I think it's almost a given thing that he will study or work (perhaps during his gap year) in Australia. He's half Australian after all, he has family there and they do have pretty good universities there as well. Apart from that the Danish foreign Ministry and Ministry for Commerce won't mind at all.

Now my questions are:
What do you think he will study at the universities?
What should he study?
Where should he study? We assume for the sake of argument that he will study in two foreign countries.
What would be a good idea for him to go and do in his gap year?
(Keep in mind that we are talking about a young fit man, who already has a solid leadership education behind him and is used to be in charge and have responsibility.)

[Izzie]

Frederik did a year of study abroad at Harvard University during 1992-1993 where he studied Political Science.

I wonder if Christian would be interested in following in his father's footsteps and try for the Frogmen Corps.

I find it interesting that for his year 2 class trip that he was just on, he chose Jordan. (The other choices seemed to include be Italy, Iceland, Kenya, Edinburgh).

Could he do his gap year via an organization like The Red Cross, Save the Children, etc.?

Didn't Frederik work at the Embassies in New York and Paris? Maybe he would do some of that?

I wonder when we will see Christian on more public engagements, especially outside Copenhagen. A summer cruise for the CPC family would have been a great opportunity for that.

I think Australia is a very good bet for him to spend time studying.

[Adda]

The "problem" with Christian's military training is that his father left the bar impossibly high. IIRC, Frede is the only Royal to ever pass the test in order to join a branch of the Special Forces, isn't he?

On the bright side, there's no way he can do worse than his cousins.

What should he Study? Well, his heart may lie elsewhere, but it's got to be the usual lot: Law, History, Economics, International Relations...he could also go for a Master's Degree (in Australia, perhaps?) I'm sure he inherited some Donaldson IQ points. Although, of course, there's no reason for him not to be able to study something he really wants to, after studying what he "should". All of this taking into consideration that he's not going to be Crown Prince for such a prolonged time as his father has.

[Muhler]

Well, we have three special forces in DK, where the demands are exceptionally high: The Jaeger Corps, The Frogman Corps and the Sirius Patrol.
Joining any of these means he has matched his dad.

And as pointed out if Christian stays in the military for more than a couple of months he has done better than his two cousins.
But the pressure is of course higher for Christian, he is expected to complete, period! Whereas Nikolai and Felix could opt out because they didn't like it or it disrupted their sleep pattern or ruined their nails, whatever.

He can indeed work for a humanitarian organization during his gap year.

Frederik worked as an intern at the embassy in Paris. Joachim worked as an intern for Mærsk in Hong Kong, shipping. As well as working at an Australian ranch.

I will estimate that Christian will or is close to taking over in about 25 years from now. I.e. when he is 38-45 years old.
I belong to the same generation as Frederik and we are not expected to live as long as our children, but if Frederik looks after himself and isn't hit by something nasty like Alzheimer, he should be in good working order by the time he reach 80, and when he is 85 he might still be fully functional. But not when he reaches 90. That I doubt very much.
A macabre prediction, but still 5 years better than the one I give myself.

Frederik was sent solo to Japan, when he was 18 or so, I think. (The hole in the sock.) But until then he had lived a pretty sheltered life, under a quite authoritarian dad, and on top of that he was shy and not at all keen on becoming king eventually.
Christian is different, he is much more comfortable in the public glare and much more used to it. So I think that already next year he will accompany one of both of his parents abroad occasionally and a little while later going solo. Indeed perhaps to Australia for his first solo trip, because it's a country he is familiar with, but just as likely to another monarchy where there is another heir about his age, he knows well: Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and quite likely Spain as well. They might just as well start bonding on the job and practice together.

[kalnel]

Would it be possible Christian to "opt out" of extensive military training? Maybe just serve a year or something? Or maybe he could pursue a program similar to Prince William, who did military service after college.

It seems kind of a shame he can't start college at 18 or 19 as most of his peers will.

[CyrilVladisla]

Could Prince Christian study at a university in England or in France?

[Muhler]

Originally Posted by kalnel

Would it be possible Christian to "opt out" of extensive military training? Maybe just serve a year or something? Or maybe he could pursue a program similar to Prince William, who did military service after college.

It seems kind of a shame he can't start college at 18 or 19 as most of his peers will.

It would, yes. There is AFAIK no requirement for a future monarch to serve in the military or even become an officer. QMII has no formal military career behind her, even though she served with the Women's Auxiliary Corps.
But back then it was rare for a woman to become officer in DK, and if she did, it was usually in some kind of supporting role.
Today it's no hindrance.

There has always been a strong affiliation with the Danish monarchs and the military, and I don't think that will change. Nor should it IMO.
After all the monarch as head of state is the formal commander in chief. Or more correctly: The soldiers are commanded, deployed or fight in the name of the monarch, because all state authority is based in the monarch's person.
Example: The police used to order say a demonstration to disperse "i Dronningens navn = In the Name of the Queen" Or when knocking on a door: "Politiet! I Dronningens navn, luk op! - The police! In the name of the Queen, open up!" - Today, I believe they just as much use: In the name of the law. Can't say for certain. The police don't come knocking on our door that often.
- Which again is one more reason why there is always someone acting as Rigsforstander when the monarch and CP are away for more than a few hours.
It's authority personified.

However, I find it more than likely that quite a few of Christian's friends will opt for voluntary conscription in the hope of some them serving with him, even if it's not in the same unit.
The military will also be the first time he will genuinely meet and whether he wants to or not get really close to ordinary Danes with all sorts of backgrounds and from all sorts of places, that he would otherwise be unlikely to meet, let alone become friends with.
The school he went to, and the twins still attend, is located in an affluent part of greater Copenhagen, and while there are pupils from average families there, i dare say they constitute the minority.
Herlufsholm, that was anything than ordinary people.
The high school he attends now is probably the closets he has ever been to associating ordinary Danes of his age. And still, there are none who pursue a technical or craftsman education there, and there are not that many typical immigrants there either, I dare guess. Nor are there many, if any, who comes from outside Copenhagen.
DK is a small country but the mentality in various parts of DK can be surprisingly different.

Also in the military he will be surrounded by young people who are all volunteers. They want to be in military. To most this is something they look forward to. Event though many will be shipped out during boot camp.
And once he ends up in NCO school, it gets even more serious. Now he's surrounded by people, who really want this and who are highly motivated. Christian needs to be on his toes to impress them!
So I truly hope Christian will pursue at least a basic military career. Because he will get to know people from totally different segments and with a different mindset and who are perhaps much more determined than he is.
It will be quite a culture shock for him, but also I hope very formative - for good or for worse.
Because there is no Prince Christian an early cold November morning, while crawling through pools of rain. If need be the other recruits will tell him that! They will be so tired, they won't hold back, should Christian not pull his weight.
On the other hand, there is nothing like the YES-experience of having completed your first 25 km night-march in full gear, singing I Østen Stiger Solen Op - a song hated by recruits for generations.

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

Could Prince Christian study at a university in England or in France?

Yes, no problem. If they will have him of course.
Personally I don't find France likely, because Christian's affiliation with France and his French relatives are pretty limited, in my impression.

[Blog Real]

Along with his Ordrup Gymnasium class, Prince Christian took part in a study trip to Jordan last week.

https://www.herognu.dk/kongelige/pri...levelse/776757

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpe0xFGt...3-1f18d460d0c0

https://www.instagram.com/p/CppWz7Dj...6-58ba29f64e71

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpe6nLyPtC2/

[Muhler]

The school has removed photos of Christian.
An interesting trip, but the hotel was apparently terrible. Let's hope Christian didn't bring any bedbugs with him home...

The trip into the desert was apparently quite strenuous. Whoever wrote the caption on the Instagram account has a great sense of humor.
Pointing out that quite a few were not adverse to express how hard it was. = A lot of complaining and whining.