Frederik And Mary of Denmark they withdrew the firstborn Christian16 years old, from Herlufsholm School, a prestigious private school with a boarding school on the Suså River in Næstved, about 80 kilometers south of Copenhagen, founded almost five hundred years ago and frequented over the centuries by many crowned heads. It was August last year when the Danish Royal House had released photos of Christian about to enter the new school: the boy, at the time, was smiling proudly in front of the Herlufsholm together with mom and dad. But last May on the television channel TV2 a documentary in which about fifty students of the institute reported very serious episodes of bullying, violence, humiliation and sexual assaults. “The principal and the management of the prestigious Herlufsholm private school have learned of numerous cases of violence, sexual abuse and intimidation among pupils,” it said in the program. “The latest cases date back to this school year.” Two months after those revelations Mary and Frederick, in an official statement, made it known that Christian will not continue his studies at Herlufsholm. While his sister Isabella, 15, who was supposed to enroll in the same college next year, will never set foot there.
«We are deeply shocked from recently released information about Herlufsholm School. The choice of school for our children, of course, is very important to us. It is about their well-being », Mary and Frederik write, explaining that before making a decision they wanted to have« certain information »:« Now we have it ». Hence their drastic choices: “Christian interrupts his studies “in the college and” Isabella won’t start studying there “after the holidays. The royals, after explaining that during the summer they will choose a new school for their offspring, conclude the message by hoping that the management of Herlufsholm will now implement “the changes necessary to create a culture in which all students, no matter who are, thrive and can feel safe on the basis of solid values ».
Prince Frederik and his wife Mary, married since 2004 and parents of four (in addition to Christian and Isabella there are twins Vincent and Josephine, 10), have always been champions of fight against bullying. So their move for Danish public opinion was almost a foregone conclusion. Especially since 16-year-old Christian he is growing up with a crown in his pocket. One day he will be the king of Denmark, after his father Frederick, whose throne seems ever closer. Queen Margrethe II81, according to royal experts, may soon abdicate in favor of his son Frederik and his wife Mary Donaldson, the first princess to come from Tasmania. Given Christian’s uncommon future, his curriculum needs to be built with particular attention. Mom Mary and dad Frederik thought about it for two months before picking it up from Herlufsholm. Because, as they explained in a statement released last May, “we are parents of a son who is very happy to attend school. And of a daughter who has long been looking forward to starting in the same place. For us, the answer depends both on the ongoing investigations and on the effect of the initiatives that the school has already decided to undertake ». Two months later the (drastic) answer came.
Other stories of Vanity Fair that may interest you:
- Christian of Denmark blows out 16 candles (as a heartthrob prince)
- Mary and Frederik of Denmark, a love “already written, almost a destiny”
- The 80th anniversary of Margrethe of Denmark, the freest queen
Source: Vanity Fair
