Youth was emphasised at Prince Christian’s birthday gala dinner Sunday evening at Christiansborg Palace, as over 200 young people from around the Danish Commonwealth joined their future king to celebrate.

In a speech, Prince Christian made special mention of his peers in the ballroom, saying: “…Thank you to all the young people who are here today. It feels really good to be surrounded by so many peers.

“We are not the same, but we stand in the same place in life. We have something in common. And tonight is new for all of us. That makes it a little easier. And I need that right now.”

Two hundred gala guests were chosen from the municipalities around Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, with further young guests invited from youth organisations and the worlds of arts, culture and sport. A full guest list can be viewed here.

Crown Prince Frederik said in his speech that inviting youth from around the Commonwealth made sense for his son’s character, as “you attract people and people attract you. That is why it is also absolutely right to celebrate you by inviting hundreds of young people to the party. It’s your style.”

Among the foreign royal guests, all eyes were on the future as Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway and Princess Estelle of Sweden made the guest list. The five future monarchs posed for a joint portrait ahead of dinner.

Of his future, Prince Christian said that he doesn’t bear the weight of this responsibility alone and that he is excited for what his future holds, “but also comfortable and proud to be part of my family, and I take pride in having to serve my country. So even though I shake my hands a little today, I have my heart in the meeting with the future.”

Guests dined on turbot (a fish dish) with fennel, Jerusalem artichokes and Danish truffles; stuffed rooster with vegetables from Fredensborg Palace; birthday cake and peaches; and wine from the Danish Royal Family’s French summer home in Cahors.