Queen Mary of Denmark takes photos of her son Crown Prince Christian as he sprays champagne from a party bus to celebrate his high school graduation
She may be the Queen of Denmark, but today she was simply the proudest mother in the crowd as she watched her son graduate from school.
Queen Mary, a mother of four, held up her phone and beamed as she took photos of 18-year-old Prince Christian in a parade with his peers to mark the end of his school career.
Dressed in a sharp pinstripe blazer and accessorized with cool wayfarer shades, Mary certainly stood out as one of the more stylish parents in the crowd β but other than that, you wouldn’t have been able to tell she was one of the most powerful women in the nation as she celebrated alongside other parents of Christian’s peers.
She was joined by King Frederik, Princess Isabella and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent at Ordrup Gymnasium in Copenhagen to celebrate the graduation of her eldest son and heir to the throne before he heads to university in the fall.
Queen Mary of Denmark was a proud mother as she attended her son’s graduation parade today
When the whole family gathered to celebrate the Crown Prince’s graduation ceremony, it was another show of solidarity from the royal family after a turbulent year in which rumors circulated that King Frederik had had an affair (which was categorically denied) and Queen Margrethe resigned in shock in the new year.
While Crown Prince Christian, who is now first to the throne after his father became king in January, took part in a parade with his peers to celebrate finishing school, this is another event in his graduation festivities.
In Denmark this is traditional for cohorts of graduates
Crown Prince Christian took part in a graduation parade this afternoon, as part of Danish tradition
Crown Prince Christian, the crown prince in Denmark, wore a traditional cap at the party
King Frederick of Denmark looked equally proud as he attended his eldest son’s graduation ceremony
Princess Josephine, the youngest child of Queen Mary and King Frederick, looked elegant in a white broderie blouse
Crown Prince Christian’s youngest sister took a photo of her brother during the parade as she watched from the crowd
Princess Isabella wore a blue blouse with ruffles as she attended the ceremony
Prince Vincent, the twin brother of Princess Josephine, looked sharp in a white polo shirt as he took part in the festivities
Mary looked stylish in a blue wrap jacket with white pinstripes and Wayfarer sunglasses as she watched the procession
Let the party begin! The graduates sprayed bubbles from a cart while waving Danish flags, as is customary at graduation ceremonies in Denmark
Crown Prince Christian accompanied his colleagues in the truck as they drove around as part of the graduation festivities
Proud young siblings Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent looked on as their brother joined the celebrations
King Frederik, father of four, opted for a smart-casual outfit in a beige jacket combined with a blue shirt
Queen Mary shared a hug with a young woman in the crowd
The student also had a conversation with King Frederik
Earlier this week, Mary and Frederik attended their son’s official graduation ceremony and spoke of their pride in interviews with local media.
It is likely that the royal will attend university in the autumn and complete his military training there, following in the footsteps of his father.
This is a similar situation to Princess Leonor, the heir to the Spanish throne. After finishing school, she began her three years of intensive defense training.
Two years ago, Prince Christian was removed from the elite Herlufsholm Boarding School after a documentary revealed allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the institution. His sister Isabella was also supposed to attend, but her parents pulled her out as well.
Crown Prince Christian appeared to be enjoying himself as he shouted from the truck while his friend held a bottle of champagne
The couple attended Ordrup Gymnasium, and since Isabella is only a year younger than her brother, Mary and Frederik will likely be at school around the same time next year to celebrate their eldest daughter’s graduation.
The school from which Christian graduated was founded in 1873 by HC Frederiksen (also called Friser), who wanted to move away from the traditional teaching methods of his time.
The school, which has several clubs, including top sports clubs, was the first school in Denmark to introduce coeducation and is seen as an innovative institution.
The core values ββat Ordrup are to encourage ‘curiosity’ among its students, as well as ‘collaboration and respect’.
The festivities to mark Crown Prince Christian’s graduation are a joyous occasion for the Danish royal family at a turbulent time, following King Frederik’s night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid last fall.
Photos of the pair showed them heading to a traditional flamenco restaurant in the Spanish capital, where Genoveva lives, where Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they dined together until the early hours.
After the photos were published, rumors circulated about an affair between the two, but Genoveva strongly denied this.
However, cracks began to appear in Queen Mary and King Frederick’s relationship after his night out with Genoveva, and the couple, who have been married for 20 years, displayed icy body language towards each other in public appearances.
But while Crown Prince Christian is celebrating a rite of passage in his life by graduating from high school, the family seems to be overwhelmed with happiness, with the Danish royals seen wearing broad smiles this afternoon.