Four days after his milestone 21st birthday, Crown Prince Christian checked off a royal first. The heir to the Danish throne made his state banquet debut on Monday during the President of Vietnam's state visit to Denmark.
The future King arrived in the red gala uniform of the Royal Life Guards, the same uniform he sported in his 21st birthday portraits. The images, released on October 15, marked the first time Christian had worn the uniform.
For both the state banquet on October 19 and his birthday gala portraits, the Crown Prince also wore the Grand Commander's Cross with the breast star of the Order of the Dannebrog. King Frederik bestowed the Grand Commander's Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog upon Christian on the occasion of his 21st birthday.
The Grand Commander is the highest degree of the Order of the Dannebrog and is awarded to royals who are already Knights of the Order of the Elephant, which Christian has been since his 18th birthday in 2023.
© Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty ImagesChristian looked every inch a dashing Prince in his uniform, with his hair neatly slicked to the side for Monday's banquet at Christiansborg Palace, where he joined his mother and father.
The appearance was another milestone in the life of a future monarch. King Frederik and Queen Mary's firstborn became Denmark's Crown Prince in January 2024 following Queen Margrethe's abdication.
Later that year, Christian graduated from Ordrup Gymnasium and went abroad to East Africa for an extended stay. In 2025, the royal began his military service with the Guard Hussar Regiment in Slagelse, before starting his Army Basic Officers Training. This past June, the Crown Prince was appointed as a second lieutenant.
© Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty ImagesThese days, Christian serves as a second lieutenant and platoon commander with the Royal Life Guards at the Guards Barracks in Høvelte. The Danish Royal House previously shared that the Crown Prince's service will continue until the summer of 2027.
Christian admitted in a recent interview with X Factor judge Benjamin Hav that he doesn't "want to be held back by who" he is.
"I don't want to think, 'I can't do that' just because there are too many people," the Crown Prince said. "Sure, lots of people might come over wanting photos, but then you just have to say: 'Sorry, not now.'"
Asked whether it feels "lonely to be watched so much," Christian candidly answered: "There's not really much I can do about it. That's what it's like being a public figure," adding: "So that's why I know it's there. And that's how it is. There's nothing I can do about it. But sometimes I'd rather do without it."
"I have plenty of freedom to figure out what I want to do. But at the same time, I know there are things I have to do. And there are things I can't do because of who I am. And I want to do what I'm supposed to do and what lies ahead. But I've never had a moment when I thought sometimes I wish I weren't me."
