Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark

Frederik
Crown Prince of Denmark

Frederik at his son Christian’s first day of school on 12 August 2011
Spouse Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
(m. 2004)
Issue Prince Christian
Princess Isabella
Prince Vincent
Princess Josephine
Full name
Frederik André Henrik Christian
Father Henri de Laborde de Monpezat
Mother Margrethe II of Denmark
Born 26 May 1968
Copenhagen, Denmark
Religion Church of Denmark

Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, RE, SKmd (Frederik André Henrik Christian; Danish pronunciation: [ˈfʁæðˀʁæɡ̊]; born 26 May 1968) is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.

Early life

Crown Prince Frederik was born at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, on 26 May 1968, to the then Princess Margrethe, oldest daughter of Frederick IX and heir presumptive to the Danish throne, and Prince Henrik.

He was christened on 24 June 1968, at Holmens Kirke, in Copenhagen. He was named Frederik after his maternal grandfather, King Frederick IX, continuing the Danish royal tradition of the heir apparent being named either Frederick or Christian. His middle names honour his paternal grandfather, André de Laborde de Monpezat; his father, Prince Henrik; and his maternal great-grandfather, Christian X. Frederik's godparents include his paternal uncle, Count Etienne de Laborde de Monpezat; his maternal aunt, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece; Prince Georg of Denmark; Baron Christian de Watteville-Berckheim; Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg; and Birgitta Juel Hillingsø.

Education and career

On 14 January 1972 he became Crown Prince of Denmark when his mother succeeded to the throne as Margrethe II.

The Crown Prince attended primary school at Krebs' Skole during the years 1974–1981, from 1974–1976 as a private pupil at Amalienborg Palace, and from the third form at Krebs' Skole. In the period 1982–1983, the Crown Prince was a boarder at École des Roches in Normandy, France. In 1986, Crown Prince Frederik graduated from the upper secondary school of Øregaard Gymnasium.

In 1989, the Crown Prince began to study for an academic degree, when he began a course in Political Science at Aarhus University. This included a year at Harvard University (1992–1993) under the name of Frederik Henriksen, studying political science. He then took up a position for three months with the Danish UN mission in New York in 1994. In 1995 Crown Prince Frederik obtained his MSc degree in Political Science from Aarhus University. He completed the course in the prescribed number of years with an exam result above average. His final paper was an analysis on the foreign policy of the Baltic States, which he had visited several times during his studies.[1][2] The Crown Prince was posted as First Secretary to the Danish Embassy in Paris from October 1998 to October 1999.

He has completed extensive military studies and training in all three services, notably completing education as a sailor in the naval elite special operations forces (members of this are known as frogmen or frømænd in Danish). His frogman nickname is "Pingo".[3]

In the period 2001 and 2002, the Crown Prince completed further training for leaders at the Royal Danish Defence College. Crown Prince Frederik remains active in the defence, and in the period 2002–2003 served as a staff officer at Defence Command Denmark, and from 2003 as a senior lecturer with the Institute of Strategy at the Royal Danish Defence College.

Military service

Languages

The Crown Prince’s mother tongue is Danish. In addition he is fluent in French (his father's language), English, and German.

Marriage and children

Crown Prince Frederik with his wife Crown Princess Mary at the Wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling.

In the Council of State on 8 October 2003, Queen Margrethe gave her consent to the marriage of Crown Prince Frederik to Mary Elizabeth Donaldson, an Australian marketing consultant whom the prince met when he was attending the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The wedding took place on 14 May 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral, Copenhagen.

The couple has four children:

Areas of interest

Scientific research, climate change and sustainability

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess admire the night skies of ESO's Paranal Observatory[4]

Frederik has a special interest in scientific research, climate change and sustainability.[5] The Prince was interviewed by Financial Times and CNN International, in the Future Cities program, for their commitment to sustainability.[6][7] He participated in expeditions, forums and events on climate.[8][9][10][11][12] The prince has represented Denmark as a promoter of sustainable Danish energy.[13][14][15] The prince was one of the authors of the Polartokt Kongelig (Polar Cruise Royal), about the challenges of climate, published in 2009 with a preface written by Kofi Annan.[16][17][18] In 2010, wrote the book's foreword Naturen og klimaændringerne i Nordøstgrønland (The nature and climate change in Greenland).[19] Supports scientific research projects, as a patron, as expeditionary, with regular attendance at events and through his foundation, Kronprins Frederiks Fond.[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]

Sports and health

Frederik running, August 2013

The Prince encourages Danish participation in sports.[33] He is a patron and honorary member of various sports organizations[34][35][36] and a member of the International Olympic Committee.[37] He also promotes an active lifestyle in society.[38][39][40]

Frederik is an avid sportsman,[41] running marathons in Copenhagen, New York and Paris, and completing the 42 kilometers with a respectable time of 3 hours, 22 minutes and 50 seconds in the Copenhagen Marathon.[42][43] In 2013 he completed the KMD Ironman Copenhagen in the time of 10:45:32 and is the first royal person to complete an Ironman.[44]

Frederik is a keen sailor, being a competitive Farr 40 skipper as well as an accomplished Dragon boater.[45] He won victories and was a leader in the steps championships.[46][47][48][49] He finished in fourth place in the European Championship Dragon Class 2003 (with 51 boats participating),[50] and at number 4 in the Farr 40 Worlds 2008 (with 33 boats participating).[51][52] He was the first in his class boat in Fyn Cup 2010 in Denmark,[53][54][55] and at number 4 in the Dragon DM 2011 (with 25 boats participating).[56][57]

Crown Prince Frederik’s Foundation

The purpose of the foundation is to provide financial assistance to students of social policy and sciences, for one year’s study at Harvard.[58] and provide financial support for scientific expeditions, particularly to foreign parts of the world, including Greenland and the Faeroe Islands and sports purposes, including those with a particularly social aspect.[59]

Patronages

The Crown Prince in Vágur, Faroe Islands, on 21 June 2005.

Honorary tasks

Participation in expeditions

Standard of Crown Prince Frederik.

The Crown Prince participated in an expedition to Mongolia in 1986. In 2000, the Crown Prince participated in "Expedition Sirius 2000", which was a four-month and 2,795 km dog-sledge expedition in the northern part of Greenland. The expedition Sirius marked the 50-year anniversary of the Sirius Patrol. Prince Frederik was part of the polar expedition as was a film photographer, whose job was to ensure an optimal coverage of this event.[61][62][63]

Member of International Olympic Committee

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark on a 2004 Faroese commemorative stamp

On 9 October 2009, Crown Prince Frederik was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee, replacing former Danish member Kaj Holm. The Crown Prince was elected with the votes 77 for and 9 against. The Crown Prince's candidature was met with some skepticism in Denmark, as it would mean that the Crown Prince would be sitting on a semi-political committee along with several people who are suspected or even convicted of criminal acts. Another concern was the doubts on whether the Crown Prince's loyalty would be towards his country and government, as the Danish constitution prescribes, or with the International Olympic Committee, as is sworn upon election to the committee. The Crown Prince denied that it would ever become an issue.

The Crown Prince announced that his point of focus and reason for joining the International Olympic Committee is to promote an active lifestyle among youth. He was elected for an eight-year term, and made it clear that he would terminate his membership upon ascending the Danish throne.

Other information

The Crown Prince and Crown Princess currently reside at Frederik VIII's Palace, one of the four palaces that make up the Amalienborg Palace complex. From May 2004 to mid-December 2010, they resided at The Chancellery House, a side building at Fredensborg Palace.

The Crown Prince receives an allowance or appanage set by the Folketing of approximately DKK 14,500,000 or about €1,950,000, of which the Crown Princess is entitled to 10%.

As a descendant of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom through her granddaughter, Princess Margaret of Connaught, daughter of her third son, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, Prince Frederik is on the Line of succession to the British Throne as well.

Godchildren

Frederik is a godfather to:

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Frederik's monogram
Arms of Crown Prince Frederik

See also : List of honours of the Danish Royal Family by country

Titles and styles

His official title in Danish is Hans Kongelige Højhed Kronprins Frederik af Danmark, Greve af Monpezat.

Danish honours and decorations

He has a number of decorations, the most notable of which are:

Greenlandic honours and decorations

Foreign decorations

He was awarded:[66]

Ancestry

References

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  2. "Crown Prince Frederik". Royal Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  3. "Profile of Prince Frederik: An in-depth look at your favourite celebrity personalities". HELLO!.
  4. "The Crown Prince Couple of Denmark visits ESO's Paranal Observatory". ESO. Retrieved 2 April 2013.
  5. "ekstrabladet.dk". ekstrabladet.dk. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  6. "Europe’s royals as climate activists". Financial Times Magazine. 27 March 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  7. "Renovating a palace in Copenhagen". CNN.
  8. www.ft.com. Financial Times (27 March 2010). Retrieved on 14 September 2011.
  9. www.billedbladet.dk. www.billedbladet.dk (22 September 2009). Retrieved on 14 September 2011.
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  64. Official website, his decorations (translation)
  65. Frederik and Mary
  66. Icelandese Presidency Website , Frederik krónprins ; krónprins ; Danmörk ; 1996-11-18 ; Stórkross (= Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Prince, Denmark, 18 November 1996, Grand Cross)
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  69. "Noblesse et Royautés", Guests to Victoria of Sweden's wedding, Photo

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark.
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Born: 26 May 1968
Order of precedence
Danish royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Prince Frederick
Crown Prince of Denmark
14 January 1972 - present
Incumbent
Lines of succession
First in line Line of succession to the Danish throne
1st position
Succeeded by
Prince Christian of Denmark
Preceded by
The Queen of Denmark
Line of succession to the British throne
descended from Arthur, son of Victoria