Count Christian of Rosenborg
Encyclopedia
Count Christian of Rosenborg, a former Danish and Icelandic prince now Grev Christian af Rosenborg (born 22 October 1942), who was high in the line of hereditary succession
to the throne of Denmark until the new right of females of the royal family
to inherit the crown displaced his branch of the dynasty in favor of his cousin Princess Margrethe
and her two younger sisters in 1953.He is also 1030th in the line of succession to the British throne.
He was born at Sorgenfri Palace
, Sorgenfri
, as His Highness
Prince Christian of Denmark. He was the younger son of HRH Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark, by his wife (and first cousin) Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark
.
in 1947, Christian stood only behind his father end elder brother Prince Ingolf
in the order of hereditary succession
to the throne, with only future children of Ingolf possibly taking a place ahead of him. His father Prince Knud was then the heir presumptive
, due to succeed Christian's uncle King Frederick IX
, who had three daughters but no sons.
In 1953, the Constitution of Denmark
was amended to allow cognatic primogeniture
. The new law made thirteen-year-old Princess Margrethe
the new heiress presumptive, placing her and her two sisters before Prince Knud and his family in the succession. Christian was thus relegated to sixth in the line of succession to the Danish throne
, but more importantly, he now ranked behind Margrethe and others who were likely to have dynastic children of their own (as has, in fact, happened). The princess became Queen Margrethe II
in 1972 and is still reign
ing as of 2011. Christian's place in the line of succession, were he still eligible, would be no higher than tenth today.
of the monarch in the Council of State
, as his brother Ingolf had done three years previously.
The king's permission to marry was not sought because it was expected to be denied, since Christian's fiancée was an untitled
commoner. Though Frederick IX had liberalized traditional practice by allowing royal spouses who were not themselves royal, but who claimed noble blood and were known by courtesy titles (Anne Bowes-Lyon
was the granddaughter of an earl and through her first marriage to the son of an earl bore the title of viscountess; Henri de Laborde de Monpezat
used the title of count, though his family's claim to nobility was later acknowledged to be flawed), it would not be until 1995 that Margrethe II would allow her children to marry commoners with neither title nor claim to noble blood. Christian was given the title Count of Rosenborg and the style
of Your Excellency
, as was customary in the twentieth century for Danish princes who renounced or forfeited their dynastic
rights.
Prior to his elder son's wedding in 1968, Prince Knud sought to convince his brother that Ingolf should be allowed to retain his royal title after his non-dynastic marriage, a privilege which might have been subsequently extended to Christian. But the king refused, on the grounds that other males of the dynasty, who had been demoted
to Counts of Rosenborg upon marriage, might try to re-claim their royal rank if Ingolf were allowed to do so despite his marrying a commoner as they had done. So, in 1971, Christian renounced his rights to the throne and took the title Count of Rosenborg.
On 27 February 1971, at Lyngby, Denmark, Christian married Anne-Dorthe Maltoft-Nielsen (who thus became Her Excellency Countess Anne-Dorthe of Rosenborg). She was born in Copenhagen
on 3 October 1947. Although lacking the prior royal assent
of the monarch given in the Council of State
that the law required, the king expressed no personal opposition to his nephew's choice of bride and, according to Christian, the king's private consent later had to be formally registered by the King-in-Council
. In a 1985 interview with Billed-Bladet, Count Christian had explained (translated from Danish):
at Copenhagen Cathedral, Copenhagen and the subsequent reception at Fredensborg Palace
. They also attended the Memorial Service in honour of Empress Maria Feodorovna held on 22 September 2006. They were included in the official guest-list as members of the Danish Royal Family when they attended the luncheon to celebrate the 75th birthday of Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark
at Fredensborg Palace
on 11 June 2009.
|-
Line of hereditary succession
Successor to hereditary title, office or like, in case of the heritage being indivisible, goes to one person at a time. There are also other sorts of order of succession than hereditary succession .The hereditary line of succession may be limited to heirs of the body, or may pass also to collateral...
to the throne of Denmark until the new right of females of the royal family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
to inherit the crown displaced his branch of the dynasty in favor of his cousin Princess Margrethe
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
and her two younger sisters in 1953.He is also 1030th in the line of succession to the British throne.
He was born at Sorgenfri Palace
Sorgenfri Palace
Sorgenfri Palace is a royal residence of the Danish monarch, located in the Lyngby-Taarbæk municipality in Greater Copenhagen....
, Sorgenfri
Sorgenfri
Sorgenfri is a neighbourhood in Lyngby-Taarbæk municipality in Greater Copenhagen lying just north of Kongens Lyngby. It is the site of Sorgenfri Palace....
, as His Highness
Highness
Highness, often used with a possessive adjective , is an attribute referring to the rank of the dynasty in an address...
Prince Christian of Denmark. He was the younger son of HRH Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark, by his wife (and first cousin) Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark
Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark
Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark and Iceland was a crown princess of Denmark by marriage to Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark.-Birth:...
.
Loss of place in succession
From the death of his grandfatherChristian X of Denmark
Christian X was King of Denmark from 1912 to 1947 and the only King of Iceland between 1918 and 1944....
in 1947, Christian stood only behind his father end elder brother Prince Ingolf
Count Ingolf of Rosenborg
Count Ingolf of Rosenborg, , is a grandson of King Christian X of Denmark and first cousin of the present Queen Margrethe II...
in the order of hereditary succession
Order of succession
An order of succession is a formula or algorithm that determines who inherits an office upon the death, resignation, or removal of its current occupant.-Monarchies and nobility:...
to the throne, with only future children of Ingolf possibly taking a place ahead of him. His father Prince Knud was then the heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
, due to succeed Christian's uncle King Frederick IX
Frederick IX of Denmark
Frederick IX was King of Denmark from 20 April 1947 until his death on 14 January 1972....
, who had three daughters but no sons.
In 1953, the Constitution of Denmark
Constitution of Denmark
The Constitutional Act of Denmark is the Kingdom of Denmark's constitution, or fundamental law. Originally verified in 1849, the last revision was signed on 5 June 1953 as "the existing law, for all to unswerving comply with, the Constitutional Act of Denmark".-Idea and structure:The main...
was amended to allow cognatic primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
. The new law made thirteen-year-old Princess Margrethe
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
the new heiress presumptive, placing her and her two sisters before Prince Knud and his family in the succession. Christian was thus relegated to sixth in the line of succession to the Danish throne
Line of succession to the Danish Throne
Denmark used a system of male-preference primogeniture until 2009. The male preference cognatic primogeniture was changed in favour of an absolute primogeniture...
, but more importantly, he now ranked behind Margrethe and others who were likely to have dynastic children of their own (as has, in fact, happened). The princess became Queen Margrethe II
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
in 1972 and is still reign
Reign
A reign is the term used to describe the period of a person's or dynasty's occupation of the office of monarch of a nation or of a people . In most hereditary monarchies and some elective monarchies A reign is the term used to describe the period of a person's or dynasty's occupation of the office...
ing as of 2011. Christian's place in the line of succession, were he still eligible, would be no higher than tenth today.
Loss of dynastic rights
In 1971, now with little hope of ascending the throne, Christian chose to forfeit his right of succession to the throne by marrying without having received the royal assentRoyal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
of the monarch in the Council of State
Council of State
The Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.-Modern:*Belgian...
, as his brother Ingolf had done three years previously.
The king's permission to marry was not sought because it was expected to be denied, since Christian's fiancée was an untitled
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
commoner. Though Frederick IX had liberalized traditional practice by allowing royal spouses who were not themselves royal, but who claimed noble blood and were known by courtesy titles (Anne Bowes-Lyon
Princess Anne of Denmark
Princess Anne of Denmark was the mother of royal photographer Patrick Anson, 5th Earl of Lichfield, and a cousin of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.-Family:...
was the granddaughter of an earl and through her first marriage to the son of an earl bore the title of viscountess; Henri de Laborde de Monpezat
Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark
Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark , is the husband of the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II.-Early life:Henrik was born in Talence, Gironde, France...
used the title of count, though his family's claim to nobility was later acknowledged to be flawed), it would not be until 1995 that Margrethe II would allow her children to marry commoners with neither title nor claim to noble blood. Christian was given the title Count of Rosenborg and the style
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
of Your Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
, as was customary in the twentieth century for Danish princes who renounced or forfeited their dynastic
Dynasty
A dynasty is a sequence of rulers considered members of the same family. Historians traditionally consider many sovereign states' history within a framework of successive dynasties, e.g., China, Ancient Egypt and the Persian Empire...
rights.
Prior to his elder son's wedding in 1968, Prince Knud sought to convince his brother that Ingolf should be allowed to retain his royal title after his non-dynastic marriage, a privilege which might have been subsequently extended to Christian. But the king refused, on the grounds that other males of the dynasty, who had been demoted
Demotion
A demotion is a reduction in an employee's rank or job title within the organizational hierarchy of a company, public service department, or other body. A demotion may also lead to the loss of other privileges associated with a more senior rank and/or a reduction in salary or benefits...
to Counts of Rosenborg upon marriage, might try to re-claim their royal rank if Ingolf were allowed to do so despite his marrying a commoner as they had done. So, in 1971, Christian renounced his rights to the throne and took the title Count of Rosenborg.
On 27 February 1971, at Lyngby, Denmark, Christian married Anne-Dorthe Maltoft-Nielsen (who thus became Her Excellency Countess Anne-Dorthe of Rosenborg). She was born in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
on 3 October 1947. Although lacking the prior royal assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
of the monarch given in the Council of State
Council of State
The Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.-Modern:*Belgian...
that the law required, the king expressed no personal opposition to his nephew's choice of bride and, according to Christian, the king's private consent later had to be formally registered by the King-in-Council
Council of State
The Council of State is a unique governmental body in a country or subdivision thereoff, though its nature may range from the formal name for the cabinet to a non-executive advisory body surrounding a head of state. It is sometimes regarded as the equivalent of a privy council.-Modern:*Belgian...
. In a 1985 interview with Billed-Bladet, Count Christian had explained (translated from Danish):
As protocol dictates, I had to ask my uncle, King Frederick IX, if he had any objections to my getting engaged...I knew I would have to renounce my title of prince and my right of succession if I married her. I was number four in the line of succession after Princess MargretheMargrethe II of DenmarkMargrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
, Princess BenediktePrincess Benedikte of DenmarkPrincess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, , , is the second daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden...
, and my father. My brother, Ingolf, had two years previously lost his princely title and succession right when he married a commoner, Countess Inge. Now I was ready to follow him. To me, it didn't matter if I were in line for the throne or not...My uncle, of course, had nothing against a union between Anne Dorte and me.
Children
Christian and Anne-Dorthe have three children:- Countess Josephine Caroline Elisabeth of Rosenborg (b. 29 October 1972 at FrederikssundFrederikssundFrederikssund Kommune is a municipality on the shores of Roskilde Fjord in the northern part of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. On 1 January 2007, the municipality was enlarged to include the old Jægerspris, Slangerup, and Skibby municipalities. It now covers an area of 260 km² and...
), married 3 October 1998 at Lyngby, Thomas Christian Schmidt (b. 22 April 1970 at CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
); two children:- Julius Christian Emil Schmidt af Rosenborg (b. 1 December 2001 at CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
) - Clara Dorte Elisabeth Schmidt af Rosenborg (b. 26 November 2004 at CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
)
- Julius Christian Emil Schmidt af Rosenborg (b. 1 December 2001 at Copenhagen
- Countess Camilla/Camille Alexandrine Cristine of Rosenborg (b. 29 October 1972 at FrederikssundFrederikssundFrederikssund Kommune is a municipality on the shores of Roskilde Fjord in the northern part of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. On 1 January 2007, the municipality was enlarged to include the old Jægerspris, Slangerup, and Skibby municipalities. It now covers an area of 260 km² and...
), married 18 May 1995 at SøllerødSøllerødUntil January 1, 2007, Søllerød was a municipality in Copenhagen County on the east coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covered an area of 39.77 km², and had a total population of 31,920...
to Mikael Rosanes (b. 8 February 1952); four children:- Anastasia Caroline Amalie Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 24 November 1997 at GentofteGentofteGentofte Kommune is a municipality in the Capital Region of Denmark on the east coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of , and has a total population of 68,913...
) - Ludwig Christian Mikael Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 5 June 2000 at Sønderborg Sygehus)
- Leopold Christian Ingolf Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 15 April 2005 at GentofteGentofteGentofte Kommune is a municipality in the Capital Region of Denmark on the east coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of , and has a total population of 68,913...
) - Theodor Christian Emanuel Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 19 June 2008)
- Anastasia Caroline Amalie Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 24 November 1997 at Gentofte
- Countess Feodora Mathilde Helena of Rosenborg (b. 27 February 1975 at FrederikssundFrederikssundFrederikssund Kommune is a municipality on the shores of Roskilde Fjord in the northern part of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. On 1 January 2007, the municipality was enlarged to include the old Jægerspris, Slangerup, and Skibby municipalities. It now covers an area of 260 km² and...
), married firstly on 31 July 2004 at Holmens KirkeChurch of HolmenThe Church of Holmen is a church in central Copenhagen in Denmark, on the street called Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is famous for having hosted the wedding between Margrethe II of Denmark, current queen of Denmark,...
, Copenhagen, to Eric Hervé Patrice Patte (b. 20 August 1976 at Pont-à-MoussonPont-à-MoussonPont-à-Mousson is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.Population : 14,592 . It is an industrial town , situated on the Moselle River...
), and divorced in 2005, without issue. Feodora married secondly Morten Rønnow. The wedding was held on 8 September/9 September 2008 in CopenhagenCopenhagenCopenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
. They have a daughter:- Caroline-Mathilde Margrethe Rønnow (b. 1 February 2009) at Copenhagen.
Public life
Count Christian takes part in some major public events associated with the royal family: in 2004, he and Countess Anne-Dorte attended the wedding on 14 May 2004 of Frederik, Crown Prince of DenmarkFrederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.-Name and christening:...
at Copenhagen Cathedral, Copenhagen and the subsequent reception at Fredensborg Palace
Fredensborg Palace
Fredensborg Palace, , is a palace located on the eastern shore of Lake Esrum in Fredensborg on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It is the Danish Royal Family’s spring and autumn residence, and is often the site of important state visits and events in the Royal Family...
. They also attended the Memorial Service in honour of Empress Maria Feodorovna held on 22 September 2006. They were included in the official guest-list as members of the Danish Royal Family when they attended the luncheon to celebrate the 75th birthday of Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark
Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark
Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark , is the husband of the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II.-Early life:Henrik was born in Talence, Gironde, France...
at Fredensborg Palace
Fredensborg Palace
Fredensborg Palace, , is a palace located on the eastern shore of Lake Esrum in Fredensborg on the island of Zealand in Denmark. It is the Danish Royal Family’s spring and autumn residence, and is often the site of important state visits and events in the Royal Family...
on 11 June 2009.
Ancestry
External links
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