Princess Isabella of Denmark marked the end of her high school years with a celebratory 'student truck ride' on June 23, following her graduation ceremony from Oeregaard Gymnasium. Her parents, Queen Mary and King Frederik X, along with her siblings, Crown Prince Christian, Prince Vincent, and Princess Josephine, were present for the milestone.
Isabella, who is set to begin her military service in August, received her white graduation cap on the same day. Images from the event show the princess embracing friends and family. She later spoke to reporters outside her school, expressing enthusiasm for her impending military training.
"I'm just super happy and proud of myself," Isabella stated after receiving her cap, noting that she had made excellent use of her three years at Oeregaard Gymnasium. She described her upcoming military service, an 11-month program at the Guard Hussar Regiment, as an opportunity she is "super excited" about and one she hopes will allow her to challenge herself.
Princess Isabella is expected to be among the first cohort of young Danish women to undertake the expanded military conscription program, which requires all 18-year-old women to register for potential service. This expansion, effective from July 2025, lengthens the service duration from four months to 11 months, a measure Denmark is implementing to bolster its defense forces amid perceived global instability and geopolitical strain.
The Danish Royal House announced in April that Isabella would follow her older brother, Crown Prince Christian, into military service. While it remains unclear if she volunteered or was selected, early indications suggest that many recruits in the initial intake of the expanded program are volunteers.
The new conscription model aims to significantly increase the number of young people undertaking military service annually, with projections estimating up to 6,500 recruits per year by 2033. This development reflects a shift towards greater military readiness in Denmark, a sentiment echoed by some recruits who cite the current unstable global climate as a reason to prepare for the future.