Crown Prince Christian visits Paralympians in Paris during first solo engagements outside of Denmark

Crown Prince Christian has met with Denmark's Paralympians in Paris, carrying out his first solo engagements abroad.

The 18-year-old travelled to France without his parents King Frederik X and Queen Mary.

Christian met with the Danish delegation taking part in the Paralympic Games inside the athlete's village, north of the capital.

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He spoke with a number of athletes, including swimmer Alexander Hillhouse, who won gold in the 100 metre butterfly and Daniel Wagner, who won silver in the long jump competition.

Much like his parents did during the Olympics in July, Crown Prince Christian also had lunch with the athletes inside the village.

Christian is in Paris to support the Danish team and attend a number of events including the wheelchair rugby and table tennis.

He was accompanied by the King's private secretary Morten Roland Hansen, who was also in Paris with the royal couple in July.

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Crown Prince Christian's visit comes just days after the Danish royal court announced he would be travelling to East Africa for a gap year.

Christian, who is heir to the Danish throne, will leave for the African continent tomorrow (September 4) where he will stay until December.

While there, Christian "will be involved in the daily operation of two farms, which will, among other things, include practical and administrative tasks and also give the Crown Prince insight into local nature protection", the palace said in a statement.

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Exactly which country, or countries, the Crown Prince will visit is remaining a secret as the stay is deemed a "private matter", the palace said.

Christian's extended stay in East Africa follows his graduation from high school in June.

The Crown Prince is also following a long-held Danish tradition, with his father the King having spent a gap year in Mongolia in 1986 followed by a year working at a vineyard in California in 1989.

Queen Margrethe II spent time in the East and South America during the 1960s before she succeeded the throne in 1974.

Crown Prince Christian's uncle, Prince Joachim, spent time in Australia on his gap year, working on a sheep farm in Wagga Wagga, in regional New South Wales, during the 1980s.

His son, Count Nikolai, recently returned from Sydney to Denmark after an extended stay while on exchange at the University of Technology from the Copenhagen Business School.

Crown Prince Christian's move to East Africa is the latest step in his eventual path to the Danish throne.

His elevation in title came in January when his grandmother announced she was stepping down in favour of her eldest son, Frederik.

The change of throne took place on January 14, 2024 at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

It's not clear whether Crown Prince Christian will begin university soon after he returns to Denmark at the end of the year but it is highly likely.

Last year, it was announced Christian had turned down his government-funded pension that he was entitled to receive once he turned 18 in October. At the time, the palace said he would not receive the money until he turned 21 or until a change of succession.

However, the money may be given to Crown Prince Christian sooner if he takes on more royal duties following the recent change of throne.

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