The Danish heir to the throne, Crown Prince Christian, will take a gap year before going to university, it has now been confirmed.
The 18-year-old son of King Frederick and Queen Mary will depart on a “long-term stay in East Africa” next month, shortly after Prince Christian graduates from high school, according to a statement posted to the royal family’s official Instagram account on Friday, August 30.
During his stay in the region, Christian will carry out “practical and administrative” tasks while also working on “two farms”, they added. However, no further details were released about his four-month itinerary.
“On September 4, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will depart for an extended stay in East Africa,” the statement said.
‘There the Crown Prince will be involved in the daily running of two farms, performing practical and administrative tasks and gaining insight into local nature conservation.
Crown Prince Christian of Denmark, first in line to the throne, will travel to East Africa in a few days for an ‘extended stay’
‘The Crown Prince is expected to return to Denmark in December.’
Queen Mary, King Frederik and their children, daughter Princess Isabella and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, looked on with big smiles at the future king’s high school graduation ceremony, held in Copenhagen in June 2024.
The royal family presented a united front at the Ordrup Gymnasium in Gentofte, while Prince Christian attended a parade with his peers to celebrate graduating from high school during the festivities.
Following his father’s succession to the throne, Prince Christian is now first in line to the Danish throne after his grandmother, Queen Margrethe, ended her historic 52-year reign in January.
Last October, he celebrated his 18th birthday with a royal gala dinner at Christiansborg Castle, attended by 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 Frederik on his graduation day) will return to Denmark in December
The palace announced on its Instagram account that Prince Christian is on an “extended stay” in East Africa to work on a farm
Prince Christian’s upcoming trip to East Africa will be part of a “long-standing tradition” within the royal family of sending heirs abroad “during their youth” to learn more about themselves and “experience the world,” the message continued.
The statement highlighted King Frederick’s “expedition to Mongolia in 1986… targeting the nomads” and a year spent working “in a vineyard in California.”
His mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe, also made ‘extended trips to East and South America’ in the 1960s.
“It is the hope of the King, Queen and Crown Prince that there will be understanding that the stay abroad remains a private matter from start to finish,” the family insisted, insisting that Christian’s privacy be respected during his trip.
“For this reason, no further details about the stay will be made public,” the statement concluded.
Fans of the royal family wished the Crown Prince a “productive, personal and enjoyable experience” in comments.
“I hope he has a great trip! I did an internship for a few months in my youth in [the] “I’ve been to southern Africa and it was very inspiring and educational!” someone wrote on Instagram.
“Africa is incredibly exciting and educational,” was another translated comment.[The trip] ‘Something you look back on with pleasure.’
A third Instagram user added: “Enjoying every minute of this amazing experience.”
Proud parents King Frederik and Queen Mary beamed with pride at Prince Christian’s graduation ceremony on June 25, 2024.
Queen Mary, 52, snapped pictures of her adult son dressed in a grey printed shirt, white trousers and slate grey trainers for the occasion.
He completed his outfit with a classic Danish graduation cap, which is traditionally placed on students’ heads by family members after they complete their final exams, Town & Country Mag reported.
The Danish queen looked cheerful and relaxed in a summery ensemble consisting of a crisp white shirt and a floral midi skirt by Zimmermann.
Meanwhile, King Frederik, 56, teamed a navy jacket 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 the turn of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to experience the special feeling of freedom that the student cap gives.
‘But it’s not just students who look forward to it. The Danish tradition also embraces family and friends, which was also evident today at Ordrup Gymnasium.’
It was widely reported at the time that the crown prince, now one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors, would enter university in August, where he would complete his military training in preparation for ruling after his father.