Queen Margrethe ensured that Prince Christian’s late grandfather would be with him on his 18th birthday, naming her grandson a Knight of the Order of the Elephant and gifting him with Prince Henrik’s insignia.
The Danish Royal House announced that Queen Margrethe had gifted Prince Christian with the Order of the Elephant privately in the moments before he appeared on the balcony of Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg.
Prince Christian received his late grandfather’s insignia, following a Royal Family tradition where insignias are passed down to other family members. To update Prince Henrik’s insignia—which was awarded to him during the reign of his father-in-law, King Frederick IX—the elephant was given a restorative paint job to add Queen Margrethe’s monogram.
The rosette was visible on Prince Christian’s collar during his balcony appearance at noon on Sunday, and, moving forward, will be worn by the Prince at official events that do not require full orders in the dress code. Tonight, Prince Christian will wear the full orders at his gala birthday dinner.
The Order of the Elephant is Denmark’s highest chivalric order. It is awarded at the Sovereign’s discretion. The last recipient prior to Prince Christian was Princess Ingrid Alexandra, who received the Order on her 18th birthday in January 2022.
All senior members of the Danish Royal Family are members, and foreign royals are granted the Order at Queen Margrethe’s discretion.
The Order of the Elephant dates back to the 1500s and received its statutes in 1693. At that time, it was decided that the regalia and insignia would include a golden tower-bearing elephant painted with white enamel and studded in diamonds, a chain of towers and elephants, a light blue sash and a breast star.
Once Prince Christian’s personal coat of arms is painted, it will be hung alongside the others’ at the Knight’s Chapel at Frederiksborg Castle.
