Queen Mary of Denmark takes photos of her son Crown Prince Christian as he sprays champagne from a party bus to celebrate his high school graduation
She may be the Queen of Denmark, but today she was simply the proudest mother in the crowd as she watched her son graduate from school.
Queen Mary, a mother of four, held up her phone and beamed as she took photos of 18-year-old Prince Christian in a parade with his peers to mark the end of his school career.
Dressed in a sharp pinstripe blazer and adorned in cool wayfarer shades, Mary certainly stood out as one of the more stylish parents in the crowd — but other than that, you wouldn’t have been able to tell that she’s one of the most powerful women in the world . the nation as she celebrated with other parents of Christian’s peers.
At Ordrup Gymnasium in Copenhagen, King Frederik, Princess Isabella and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent joined her to celebrate the graduation of her eldest son and heir apparent before he heads off to university in the fall.
Queen Mary of Denmark was a proud mother as she attended her son’s graduation parade today
When the whole family came to celebrate the Crown Prince’s graduation ceremony, it marked another show of solidarity from the royal family after a turbulent year that included rumors that King Frederik had had an affair (which were vehemently denied) and the shocking abdication of Queen Margrethe in the new year.
While Crown Prince Christian, now first in line to the throne after his father became king in January, took part in a parade with his peers to celebrate finishing school, this is a different event in his graduation festivities.
In Denmark it is common for cohorts of graduates
Crown Prince Christian took part in a graduation parade this afternoon, as part of Danish tradition
Crown Prince Christian, the heir to the Danish throne, wore a traditional cap at the party
King Frederick of Denmark looked equally proud as he attended his eldest son’s graduation ceremony
Princess Josephine, the youngest child of Queen Mary and King Frederick, looked elegant in a white broderie blouse
Crown Prince Christian’s youngest sister took a photo of her brother during the parade as she watched from the crowd
Princess Isabella wore a blue blouse with ruffles as she attended the ceremony
Prince Vincent, Princess Josephine’s twin brother, looked sharp in a white polo shirt as he joined the festivities
Mary looked stylish in a blue wrap blazer with white pinstripes and wayfarer shades as she watched the parade
Let the party begin! The graduates sprayed bubbles from a cart while waving Danish flags, as is customary at graduation ceremonies in Denmark
Crown Prince Christian joined his colleagues in the truck as they drove around as part of the graduation festivities
Proud young siblings Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent watched as their brother joined the celebrations
Father of four King Frederik opted for smart-casual in a beige jacket combined with a blue shirt
Queen Mary shared a hug with a young woman in the crowd
The student also had a conversation with King Frederik
Earlier this week, Mary and Frederik attended their son’s official graduation ceremony and told local media how proud they were in interviews.
It is likely that the royal will attend university in the autumn and complete his military training there, following in the footsteps of his father.
This is a similar situation to Princess Leonor, the heir to the Spanish throne. After graduating from school, she began her three years of intensive defense training.
Two years ago, Prince Christian was withdrawn from the elite Herlufsholm boarding school after allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the institution emerged in a documentary. His sister Isabella was also supposed to attend, but her parents dragged her away too.
Crown Prince Christian appeared to be enjoying himself as he shouted from the truck as his friend held a bottle of champagne
The couple were enrolled at Ordrup Gymnasium and since Isabella is only one year younger than her brother, Mary and Frederik will likely be at school around the same time next year to celebrate their eldest daughter’s graduation.
The school from which Christian graduated was founded in 1873 by HC Frederiksen (called Friser), who wanted to distance himself from the traditional teaching methods of his time.
The school, which has several clubs, including top sports clubs, was the first school in Denmark to introduce co-educational education and is seen as an innovative institution.
The core values at Ordrup are to encourage ‘curiosity’ among its students, as well as ‘collaboration and respect’.
The festivities marking Crown Prince Christian’s graduation are a joyous occasion for the Danish royal family at a time of turmoil, following King Frederik’s night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid last autumn.
Photos of the pair showed them heading to a traditional flamenco restaurant in the Spanish capital, where Genoveva lives, where Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they dined together until the early hours.
After the photos were published, rumors circulated about an affair between the two, but Genoveva strongly denied this.
However, cracks began to appear in Queen Mary and King Frederick’s relationship after his night out with Genoveva, and the couple, who have been married for 20 years, showed icy body language towards each other in public appearances.
But as Crown Prince Christian marks a rite of passage in his life by graduating from high school, the family appears overwhelmed with happiness – as there was laughter all around the Danish royal family this afternoon.
