In a special episode of the Royal Daily News, we bring you the exciting news of Prince Christian of Denmark’s 18th birthday celebration.
The young prince, like any other teenager, had a grand birthday party hosted by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark in Copenhagen.
To mark this significant milestone in his life, Her Majesty the Queen presented Prince Christian with the prestigious Order of the Elephant during a private ceremony at Frederik VIII’s Slot at Emelienborg.
The Order of the Elephant, dating back to the 15th century, is the oldest and most esteemed Danish order of knights, traditionally bestowed upon royalty and heads of state.
It is important to note that the Order of the Elephant is only loaned to the recipient.
Upon the passing of an elephant knight, the order must be returned to the chapter.
As a result, many of the elephants have been used multiple times.
For this special occasion, the concrete elephant underwent a minor restoration and was adorned with the Queen’s monogram, as is customary for awarded elephants.
In addition to the Order of the Elephant, Prince Christian also received the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olaf from His Majesty King Harald V of Norway.
Established in 1847 by King Oskar I, the Royal Norwegian Order of the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olaf is conferred upon foreign royalty, heads of state, and Norwegian nationals.
The highest class of the order, the Grand Cross with the collar, was bestowed upon Prince Christian.
The birthday celebrations commenced with Prince Christian observing the changing of the royal lifeguards at Emelienborg Slot Square, just moments before noon.
At exactly noon, the young prince appeared on the balcony of Frederik VIII Slot at Emelienborg, waving to the enthusiastic crowd of Danes and tourists who had gathered to wish him a happy birthday.
During this balcony appearance, Prince Christian proudly displayed the rosette of the Order of the Elephant on his jacket lapel, symbolizing his status as an elephant knight.
Joining Prince Christian on the balcony were his parents, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, as well as Her Majesty the Queen.
The rest of the royal family, including Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent, and Princess Josephine of Denmark, also joined in the joyous celebration, waving to the cheering crowds.
Later in the evening, a magnificent gala dinner took place inside the Hall of Knights at Christiansborg Slot, hosted by Her Majesty the Queen.
The guest list included members of various royal families, such as Princess Benedicte of Denmark, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece, Prince Gustav and Princess Karina of Seine-Wittgenstein-Barlberg, and many others.
Representatives from Danish government, military, youth organizations, and young achievers in sports, art, and culture were also in attendance.
The event began with a grand procession, with non-reigning royal and princely houses leading the way, followed by the reigning houses of Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands, along with members of the Danish royal family.
The highlight of the evening was the entrance of the Queen, accompanied by Prince Christian, into the Hall of Knights.
During the gala dinner, Queen Margrethe II delivered a heartfelt speech, emphasizing the importance of Prince Christian’s role as a future king and assuring him of the support he will always have.
Crown Prince Frederik also addressed his son, acknowledging the challenges that lie ahead and encouraging him to embrace them with courage and resilience.
Prince Christian himself expressed his gratitude and love for his country, emphasizing the significance of finding his own path while cherishing his roots.
As for the culinary delights of the evening, guests were treated to a sumptuous feast that included roasted teal bull with fennel, Jerusalem artichokes, and Danish truffles, as well as stuffed Glorstein young rooster with vegetables from Wredensburg Slot and Karl Johan Sauce.
A magnificent birthday cake and peaches from Wredensburg Slot added to the culinary extravaganza.
The wines served hailed from Chateau de Keks.
The Hall of Knights was adorned with exquisite floral decorations, featuring velvety red roses, milk thistle, pink veronicas, yellow snapdragons, carnations, salmon-colored cloves, bird of paradise, foxtail, and red climbing lilies, creating a truly enchanting ambiance.
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Their comprehensive coverage will surely satisfy your curiosity.
On behalf of the Royal Daily News, we extend our warmest wishes to Prince Christian on his 18th birthday, hoping that it serves as a joyous prelude to many more fulfilling years ahead.
Stay tuned for more royal news, and have a wonderful week ahead.