Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece enters Prince Christian of Denmark’s birthday gala at Christiansborg Palace on October 15.Photo:Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece quietly shifted a key accessory atPrince Christianof Denmark’sbirthday gala.
On Sunday, Marie Chantal, 55, attended the glittering 18th birthday bash for the second in line to the Danish throne at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen and arrived with her navy Order of Saints Olga and Sophia sash on the wrong shoulder.
Meanwhile, her husband, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, sported his sky-blue Order of the Elephant shoulder from his left shoulder to his right hip.
While that draping is the correct way to wear Denmark’s highest order of chivalry, protocol calls for the Order of Saint Olga and Sophia sash to be worn from right to left. King George II of Greece established the order in 1936 to recognize women’s contributions to royal life,The Court Jewellerreported. Though the Greek monarchy was abolished in 1973, the honor has continued, and Princess Marie-Chantal previously received the royal rank from her late father-in-law, King Constantine II.
Crown Princess Marie-Chantal and Crown Prince of Greece enter Prince Christian of Denmark’s birthday gala at Christiansborg Palace on October 15.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
As seen in photos from the glam gala, the crown princess was quick to catch the faux pas and switched her navy sash to her right shoulder.
She’s hardly the first guest of a royal event to make the same mistake, asDavid Beckhamfamously arrived at the 2011 wedding ofPrince WilliamandKate Middletonwith his Order of the British Empire medal on the wrong lapel. The soccer legend similarly swapped it to the other side after taking a seat for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece at Prince Christian of Denmark’s birthday gala at Christiansborg Palace on October 15.Shutterstock
Shutterstock
Prince Christian was fêted on his 18th birthday Sunday in pageantry that began with a balcony appearance for a changing of the guard at Amalienborg Castle and continued with the epic celebration at Christiansborg Palace that night. The Danish Royal Houserevealedthat the prince even received something special from his grandmotherQueen Margrethe— the private presentation of the Order of the Elephant.
According to thecourt, the order dates back to the 15th century and is primarily reserved for royalty and heads of state — a fitting tribute asCrown Prince Frederik’s eldest son steps into his destiny ahead.
David and Victoria Beckham make their way into Westminster Abbey for Kate Middleton and Prince William’s wedding in April 2011.JASPER JUINEN/AFP via Getty
JASPER JUINEN/AFP via Getty
Christian proudly sported the blue sash and elephant charm with his white tie ensemble at the gala, where he posed for a photo withfour fellow futureEuropean monarchs.
While Prince Christian and Princess Ingrid Alexandra matched in their Order of the Elephant regalia, a close look at the photo shows that Princess Catharina-Amalia and Princess Elisabeth wore their sashes the opposite way. That’s because the Order of the Netherlands Lion (which Catharina-Amalia belongs to) and the Order of Leopold (which Elisabeth is in) dictate that sashes are sported from right shoulder to left hip.
The Scandinavian royal families share a tight bond in both their royal duties and their personal connections, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra was honored with the Order of the Elephant when she turned 18 in January 2022,The Court Jewellersaid. In another tie, her parents Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are Prince Christian’s godparents!
Ingrid Alexandra and Christian even sat next to each other during the gala dinner, where the prince gave his first official speech, where he shouted out his peers in the crowd and touched on the challenges of starting a new school last year.
“I would like to thank everyone who helped celebrate me. Both you who are here and all of you who have sent greetings and gifts. I will never forget today. But maybe I will remember it as less challenging already tomorrow,” he said in hisaddress.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway and Prince Christian of Denmark sit together during his 18th birthday gala on October 15.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty
MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty
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“I have to find my way, even if it leads to a familiar place. I have roots in many places in the world, and I enjoy traveling. But home will always be here because I love my country," Prince Christian concluded.
The prince’s birthday celebrations willcontinue next monthwhen he attends a meeting of the Council of State (which is comprised of government ministers) and declares that he wishes to comply with the Danish constitution.
source: people.com
