What to do

With the arrival of Le Petit Prince here in Denmark, the journalists are speculating what can he do with his life. Apart from being a prince and in the line of succession that is.

The odds are small that he will get a full-time royal gig; with two brothers ahead in the succession, and two cousins ahead of them again, there should be plenty of warding for any kind of unfortunate mishap that might occur. The chances of Le Petit Prince one day ruling Denmark, or having major royal duties are slim.

Can someone in the line of succession work, and if so as what, seems to be the question journalists are pondering about to their readers.

They seem to agree that a career in the military would be okay; it is a tested and true career path for Danish princes. Especially those further down in the line of succession. Prince Carl of Denmark started his career in the Danish navy, and progressed through the ranks. The fact that he ended up as King of Norway was perhaps more due to the family he married into and the son he begat than the navy career, but let’s not quibble on that.

Another Danish prince, Prince Aage, the first with the title Count of Rosenborg, joined the French Foreign Legion, after a career in various other military positions. Incidentally, also a son of a French-born Princess Marie.

Aage’s brother, Prince Axel, was also educated a naval officer. He joined the East Asiatic company in 1922. In the 30s he was on the board, and for a period of time, the chairman. From 1932-1958, he was the Danish representative in the IOC.

Aage and Axel’s cousin Prince Gorm was an officer in the Danish navy.

At the age of 17, Prince Vilhelm of Denmark ended up as King of the Hellenes. I’m not sure if that’s a career-path to strive for – countries looking for monarchs may be few and far between now, in 17 years it may be even less .

Prince Jørgen married royalty abroad, and became known as Prince George, the Duke of Cumberland, the spouse of Queen Anne. Marrying other royals has long been a valid career for someone born royal.

The alternative is also to not ask the Queen, or the King (as it may very well be when that time comes) for permission to get married, thus resulting in an exit from the royal family.

Count Ingolf, the oldest son of Hereditary Prince Knud, did that, and is currently a farmer in Jutland. Granted, he also claims a yearly sum from the state, as consolation for his loss of the throne after the Constitutional changes of 1953, which wouldn’t be an option for anyone else. However, Prince Joachim does have a farm in southern Jutland which one of the three sons presumably will take over.

Another career option is to emulate Princess Elisabeth, who is turning 74 today. Without a yearly sum from the state to provide for her, the Princess who is currently last in the Danish line of succession, worked for the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs for most of her career. She has a few patronages, but is not paid from the state for maintaining them.