Prince Christian
Revealed! He signed this paper for the first time as temporary regent
Prince Christian
© Dana Press
There are exciting days behind Prince Christian: While his father King Frederik was in Poland from January 31st to February 2nd, the Crown Prince took on the role of regent – and for the first time put his signature on a document.
On January 14, 2024, Crown Prince Frederik became King Frederik, 55 – a historic step in Denmark’s monarchy. His mother Queen Margrethe, 83, had previously announced in her New Year’s speech that she would pass the scepter on to her eldest son in a few days.
Exciting premiere for Prince Christian
That Sunday was a day that not only King Frederik and Queen Mary, 51, will never forget. Their four children, Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, both 13, were also there and experienced the event up close. January 14th was particularly significant for Prince Christian; from now on he will carry the title of Crown Prince, which his father previously held, and will, among other things, be allowed to take part in meetings of the State Council.
But that’s not all. As crown prince, Christian is also authorized to represent the regent during trips or in cases of illness. However, during Frederik’s first solo trip as monarch from January 31st to February 2nd, Danish media and various nobility experts assumed that Queen Mary would take over the business. As the palace confirmed to the Danish newspaper “Billed Bladet” on Tuesday, January 30, Crown Prince Christian should take on the role of regent for these three days. A first for the 18 year old!
“There is a hierarchy and a hierarchy in the royal family that is respected”
“He’s really getting a quick and early premiere,” royal family expert and court historian Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen told “BT” about the court’s decision, but also explained that Christian’s temporary role was a “relatively technical thing.” “The reason we have a regent is because according to the constitution we have a constitutional kingship, which means that if the king doesn’t sign the laws, they are not valid – he is simply part of the state machinery, and therefore it always has to be give someone who does that,” says Olden-Jørgensen. The nobility expert further emphasized that it was not particularly surprising that Christian took over the office and not Mama Mary, who did not accompany her husband to Poland: “It’s all by the book, because the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne – according to the constitution, he is Next, so he doesn’t even become regent, he’s just regent. There is a hierarchy and a hierarchy in the royal family that is respected.”
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“When Crown Prince Christian was admitted to the State Council at the age of 18, he signed the constitution. So he knows what the task entails and what his duties are,” Sebastian Olden-Jørgensen continued. However, this also means that the crown prince is not expected to question the laws he must sign as deputy regent. “In principle and on paper he can refuse to sign a law, but that has not been an option for over 100 years. We have a constitution and some laws, but we also have a political culture, and that is just as strong and “says, among other things, that the regent signs what the Danish parliament has decided,” said the court historian. In his opinion, the new responsibility as crown prince with the role of regent also showed that Christian has taken a step forward in the functioning royal family – and how! A recording was distributed on X (formerly Twitter) on February 1st showing a law signed by Prince Christian on January 31st at Amalienborg Castle. Despite this special premiere, the 18-year-old is going to school “as normal” these days, reports Ekstra Bladet.
Prince Christian signs first application on behalf of the king
However, the crown prince put his very first signature on behalf of the king on a different document, as the Danish magazine “Se og hør” has now revealed. Morten Dahlin, Minister for Cities and Rural Areas, Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs and Minister for Nordic Cooperation, went on parental leave. The document available to the magazine shows the application signed by Christian.
In addition to Prince Christian, Queen Margrethe, Queen Mary, Princess Benedikte, 79, and Prince Joachim, 54, can also take on the role of royal regent in King Frederik’s absence.
Frederik’s first trip abroad as king
King Frederik’s trip to Poland was an economic development campaign in which 38 companies took part. He began his visit in the capital Warsaw before traveling to the port city of Szczecin, where he visited NETO’s regional headquarters and representatives from Danish and Polish business.
Sources used: twitter.com, billedbladet.dk, bt.dk, seoghoer.dk