Queen Mary says she and King Frederik will miss Crown Prince Christian 'very much' as he leaves for East Africa

Queen Mary has spoken publicly for the first time about her eldest son moving to East Africa for an extended stay.

The Danish royal was asked about Crown Prince Christian's travels as she attended an awards night in Copenhagen on Wednesday.

Hours earlier, Crown Prince Christian said goodbye to his mother and father, King Frederik X, and siblings, as he embarked on the adventure.

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Queen Mary – wearing a frock by Australian label Moss & Spy – was the guest of honour at the Carlsberg Foundation's Research Awards.

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The ceremony was held inside the Glyptoteket Museum and saw archaeologist Rubina Raja and biochemist Jesper Qualmann Svejstrup awarded DKK 2 million (approx. $500,000 AUD) each to help fund research projects.

The awards are held each year and Queen Mary is a regular attendee.

As she was leaving the event, the Queen was asked about Crown Prince Christian's stay in East Africa.

The Crown Prince left Denmark for the African continent on Wednesday where he will remain until December.

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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 Danish Royal Household said in a statement.

The Queen was asked by journalist Marianne Singer how she felt about the move.

Queen Mary said she and King Frederik were "looking forward" Christian's travels "as he is going to experience learning on his own".

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"But at the same time we are going to miss him unimaginably – very, very much," she added.

She then praised the "very talented international and Danish researchers" who she had presented with the prize money at the Glyptoteket.

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.

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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.

Days before leaving for Africa, Christian travelled to Paris where he met athletes competing at the Paralympic Games 2024 before attending several events.

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