Queen Mary and King Frederik have celebrated their son, 19-year-old Crown Prince Christian, taking the next step in his royal career.
The Danish royals shared the news as Christian continues to follow in his father’s footsteps as part of the Northern European nation’s armed forces.
Christian has now successfully completed the traditional four-day REX tour with the Guard Hussar Regiment, officially becoming a Guards Hussar.
The 19-year-old royal, who enrolled in military training at the Antvorskov barracks in Slagelse in February, finished the arduous exercise last Thursday.
Queen Mary and King Frederik have celebrated a major milestone for Crown Prince Christian.
Getty / Kongehuset
The REX tour is infamous for its extreme physical and mental challenges. Each cadet carries approximately 25 to 30 kg of equipment whilst covering around 31 miles in 36 hours.
Crown Prince Christian went beyond the standard requirements, reaching approximately 40 miles as he participated in extra patrols during the exercise in his role as second-in-command.
The four-day exercise is divided into two 48-hour parts, with severely limited rest periods.
Cadets receive only a two-hour break once or twice daily throughout the entire exercise.
Christian has completed the infamous four-day REX tour with Denmark's Guard Hussar Regiment.
Kongehuset
Each soldier is provided with just one field ration of food for the entire duration, consisting of freeze-dried meals and snacks.
The final phase tests cadets in a harrowingly realistic battlefield setting.
In a statement, the Danish royal palace announced: “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is now a Guards Hussar and will continue his Lieutenant's training starting in August."
"The training starts in early August 2025 and lasts one year plus a subsequent period of practical service as a platoon leader," the statement revealed.
The Crown Prince will now switch to Lieutenant's training later this year.
Kongehuset
Crown Prince Christian is following a royal tradition by pursuing military service, walking in the footsteps of his father, King Frederik.
The King spent much of his early career in the military, serving in the infantry regiment of the Royal Life Guards and the elite Royal Frogmen Corps, a special forces unit within the Danish Navy.
Before beginning his military journey, Crown Prince Christian completed his high school education last summer.
He then spent three months in East Africa from September to December, where he gained valuable experience in the day-to-day operations of two farms and developed insights into conservation efforts.
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Christian is following in his father King Frederik's footsteps, who served in Denmark's Navy.
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Service is evidently a key commitment to the Danish royals after Queen Mary and King Frederik were forced to spend their 21st wedding anniversary apart as royal duties call them to different directions.
Queen Mary was holding a meeting at the Mary Foundation, a charity she founded in 2007 which tackles issues like bullying, domestic violence and loneliness.
Meanwhile, King Frederik was presenting the Danish Academy of Science's gold medal to this year's recipient.
Frederik serves as one of the institution's patrons, representing the monarchy at this prestigious academic event.
