‘We wish everyone a big congratulations': Queen Mary's emotional reunion with Crown Prince Christian at military base
Queen Mary has reunited with her eldest son Crown Prince Christian and shared a message of support to his fellow recruits completing national service.
Christian, 19, is currently undergoing mandatory military service and is understood to be living at an isolated Guard Hussar Regiment base in the remote town of Slagelse.
Denmark's constitution stipulates every male over the age of 18 completes mandatory national service, which usually spans between four months and a year.
On Wednesday, the Danish palace released new photos of the Queen alongside her eldest son and fellow recruits and congratulated them on completing military service.
'Today, the Crown Prince and his fellow servicemen are completing their military service,' the King and Queen said in a statement (translated from Danish).
'Everyone should be rightly proud of a completed military service - it creates respect.
'At the Family Day in March at Antvorskov Barracks, we had the pleasure of meeting several of the conscripts and their families.
'We wish everyone a big congratulations on completing their military service.'
The future Danish monarch has swapped his gilded life in the palace for meagre food rations, little sleep and intensive training exercises.
Earlier this month, Christian and his fellow recruits marched more than 65 kilometres across the wilderness with full gear and weapons.
The update comes months after Mary, Frederik and their children were seen reuniting with Christian at the remote military base in March.
The Scandinavian Kingdom of about 5.9 million people has practiced conscription for much of its history dating back to the Viking age.
From 2027 onwards, women will also be required to complete national service amid rising tensions with Russia and United States President Donald Trump's desire to acquire Greenland.
Noticeably, Princess Isabella, 18, was shown trying on her brother's military gear in one of the official photos released in March in a possible sign she will also complete national service.
The princess, who is tipped to become a full-time working royal in future, may opt to complete the service in a show of solidarity with other young Danish women.
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