Crown Prince Christian of Denmark had his first real experience of representation as heir to the Danish throne, this Wednesday, January 1, 2025. The eldest son of King Frederik in Amalienborg. Crown Prince Christian wore the collar of the Order of the Elephant.
Read also: Velvet and tiaras: the Danish royal family celebrates the New Year 2025 with great fanfare with the government
Christian of Denmark is invited to the New Year’s reception for the first time as heir to the throne
Since the 18th century, Danish rulers have had the habit of organizing “new year tables” or “new year cures” at the start of the year. From 1849, with the abolition of the absolute monarchy, the sovereign made it a tradition to invite members of the government and the authorities of the country to his table. This January 1, 2025, for his very first New Year’s reception as sovereign, King Frederik Copenhagen.
Read also: The Danish royal family shares their Christmas reunion with Queen Margrethe at Marselisborg Castle
For the very first time, Crown Prince Christian, 19, was also invited. Queen Margrethe abdicated on January 14, 2024, her 52nd reigning anniversary in favor of her eldest son, Frederik. King Frederik For his first New Year’s reception as sovereign, he could count on his wife, Queen Mary, to help him organize. Their eldest son, Crown Prince Christian, was also present for the first time, who became heir to the throne almost a year ago.
Read also: Crown Prince Christian transformed for his 19th birthday in Africa
Crown Prince Christian wears the Order of the Elephant necklace for his first institutional reception
Crown Prince Christian came of age at the end of 2023 and on this occasion, his grandmother, Queen Margrethe, who had not yet announced her intention to abdicate, awarded him the Order of the Elephant . A few months later, Christian became the heir to the throne but until now, the young man has never really had the opportunity to perform official functions or undertake solo commitments. Christian finished his high school studies in the summer of 2024, then he followed up with a several-month trip to Africa. Christian returned from Africa just before the end of year holidays and in a few days he will begin his compulsory military service.
Read also: Crown Prince Christian hangs his shield as a knight of the Order of the Elephant
This Wednesday, Crown Prince Christian was the only prince not to wear a gala military uniform, a likely unique configuration. After completing his military service, we can imagine that next year, Christian will also wear a uniform like his father and his uncle, Prince Joachim. Crown Prince Christian had already worn his Order of the Elephant necklace in public, notably during his birthday gala organized for his 18th birthday, but he had never worn it in another more institutional context. Christian also wore many medals, which at the moment are only commemorative medals received on the occasion of his grandmother’s jubilees.
Read also: Prince Christian poses for his first official portrait adorned with his decorations
The Order of the Elephant is the highest Danish honor, restored in 1580 by King Frederick VII after a brief disappearance in 1536 due to the Protestant Reformation. The order was first founded in 1460 by the first of the Oldenburg dynasty. The statutes of the order as we know them today were created by King Christian V in 1693. When it was created in the 15th century, Denmark was Catholic and the badge then represented an elephant carrying the Virgin Mary and the child Jesus. After the Protestant Reformation and its restoration in 1580, the elephant was modified to carry a tower. The elephant symbolizes chastity and purity. This order only includes the rank of knight.
The number of knights of the Order of the Elephant being limited, the insignia are returned upon the death of a knight. After a few modifications, the elephant badge is then given to a new recipient. Usually, it is not revealed who the previous owner of the elephant was. When Christian received the Order of the Elephant, the Royal Court exceptionally revealed that the insignia were those which belonged to his grandfather, Prince Consort Henry. The small restorations carried out on the elephant mainly consisted of erasing the monogram of King Frederick IX to paint that of Queen Margrethe II, each elephant being decorated with the monogram of the sovereign who handed over the order.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. [email protected]
