A handsome prince goes to the ball....

After the summer they've had, Denmark's royals needed a reason to smile and a big birthday with fairytale ball provided the happy-ish ending they've been seeking for weeks. Prince Nikolai of Denmark turned eighteen on August 28th 2017 and grandma, Queen Margrethe II, threw him a party on the royal yacht, as you do, to mark the milestone. Even grumpy grandpa, Prince 'call me king, please' Henrik, smiled. Here's how Denmark's royals got happy with a party....


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The streamers and balloons were brought out to mark the coming of age of Nikolai William Alexander Frederik, eldest grandson of Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik, who was born on August 28th 1999 - one of the last royal babies of the old millennium.  He'd already treated us to a set of rather striking birthday portraits and Nikolai looked just as cool and confident as he arrived for his big celebration.

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Nikolai was joined by little brother, fifteen year old Prince Felix, and his parents at the bottom of the gangplank leading to the Dannebrog. Prince Joachim and his first wife, Alexandra, have shared custody of the boys since their divorce.

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Joachim's second wife, Princess Marie, and their two children, Prince Henrik and Princess Athena, joined the family photo and no prizes for guessing who really loves their big brother from this photo.

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There was just one absence from this family fiesta - Crown Prince Frederik is on duty with the International Olympic Committee. But auntie Mary wasn't going to miss her nephew's big party and arrived juggling her four children.

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Christian and Isabella were doing the bag carrying (presents for the prince and what looked like a handbag, possibly mum's for the princess) while Mary was keeping the twins under control.

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Margrethe and Henrik were waiting on board, looking like the whole 'make me king or cancel the joint tomb' row hadn't happened and we even got a family portrait where everyone looked so happy that the summer stress seemed a million miles away.


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But then this evening wasn't about queens, kings or constitutions (even though Nikolai can now stand in for his grandmother as regent when she is out of the country). This was a party to celebrate the first born of the youngest generation moving into adulthood. It was a big birthday, it was a big party and it looked like a big success. This handsome prince will have been more than happy to go to the ball.