Queen Mary’s daughter begins Danish military service

Princess Isabella of Denmark has begun her military service.

With a broad smile and carrying a rucksack, the 19-year-old arrived at the Antvorskov Barracks in the town of Slagelse, where she will be serving with the Guard Hussar Regiment for 11 months.

According to the Ritzau news agency, 1600 young people in Denmark began a new extended basic military service on Monday.

Denmark recently extended its basic military service from four to 11 months due to the changing security situation in Europe.

The country also introduced compulsory military service for women aged 18 and over – although it continues to conscript only a proportion of each age cohort.

This means Isabella, the second-oldest child of King Frederik X and Australian-born Queen Mary, is among the first women to begin the new extended basic military service.

Danish media reported, citing the royal house, that Isabella will forgo any remuneration during her military service.

Isabella’s brother, Crown Prince Christian, also completed his military service in Slagelse.

The heir to the throne began training as a second lieutenant last year.

Members of the Danish royal family traditionally spend part of their lives in the armed forces, a practice also observed in other European monarchies.

Did you know?

• One of the world’s oldest monarchies: Denmark’s royal family traces its lineage back more than 1,000 years to Viking king Gorm the Old, making it one of the world’s oldest continuous monarchies.
• An Australian queen: Queen Mary was born in Hobart, Tasmania, and became the first Australian-born Queen of Denmark when King Frederik X ascended the throne in January 2024.
• A royal romance: Mary met then-Crown Prince Frederik at Sydney’s Slip Inn during the 2000 Olympic Games. They married in Copenhagen in 2004.
• Military tradition: Military service is a long-standing tradition for Danish royals. Princess Isabella follows her older brother, Crown Prince Christian, who also trained with the Guard Hussar Regiment.
• The King’s passion: King Frederik X founded the hugely popular annual Royal Run, a nationwide community fun run that attracts tens of thousands of participants across Denmark each year.
• Bluetooth has royal roots: The wireless technology Bluetooth is named after 10th-century Danish King Harald “Bluetooth” because he united Denmark—just as the technology connects different devices.