Prince Christian has officially came of age, making a series of balcony appearances at Frederik VIII’s Palace with his family as the crowds cheered their future king.

The young royal made a series of appearance on the balcony. First alone, then accompanied by his immediate family—Queen Margrethe Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, and younger siblings Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine.

He then appeared again with Queen Margrethe and Crown Prince Frederik, highlighting the three generations of monarch and future monarchs.

Proud mother Crown Princess Mary chose a touching piece of jewellery for the balcony appearance: her diamond, sapphire and pearl brooch was also worn on the day of Prince Christian’s christening, 21 January 2006.

The brooch was a gift from Queen Margrethe to her daughter-in-law, and as she recounted in a book on her jewels to coincide with her Golden Jubilee last year: “I think that I myself was so touched that my mother [Queen Ingrid] gave it to me…therefore I thought that the piece of jewellery should go to Prince Christian’s mother.”

The Crown Prince and Princess were living in the Chancellery at the time of Christian’s birth, and Queen Margrethe further felt that, because Queen Ingrid had once lived there, too, and that Crown Prince Frederik and his grandmother were so close, “It had to continue that way.”

It was also announced on the morning of Christian’s that Queen Margrethe has named her grandson a Knight of the Order of the Elephant, Denmark’s highest chivalric honour. King Harald also announced that he has made the young prince a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav.

Queen Margrethe will host a gala dinner in Christian’s honour at Christiansborg Castle on the night of his birthday. Young people from around the Commonwealth of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands have been invited to a dinner that also includes members of the Danish Royal Family and foreign royal guests.