Well, I am asking because they are sons of a second son. So why should it really have been a big deal to anyone? Especially as they will never reign so whether it looks bad or not would be pointless.
I get your point, SirGyamfi1! However you need to see this in the
context of DRF traditions: Again, Danish princes have been expected
to join the Defence forces at some point, regardless of
their place in the line of succession! It was just done, underlining
the ties between the Armes Forces and the Royal House. It was done,
as an expression of willingness to defend your country and
as a sign of loyalty to and respect for those serving in the
forces.
Danish princes have always been serving a time in the Armed Forces. Period!
Even princes Ingolf and Christian, who were sidetracked at the 1953
change of the Succession Law, did their military service, and Christian
eventually made a career of it.
Apparently, this tradition has not been revised by the DRF, Well
at least it hasn’t up till now!
The times are changing, traditions change, little by little in the various royal
families, realising that these days they need to ‘earn and preserve’
the respect of the people, contrary to say 50 years ago, when they
were respected by default because of the institution they represented.
Back to your question: Should two sons of the spare do their military
service, just because it’s a tradition in the family? No, if you ask me!
No, because the times have changed and the perception of royalty
has changed! My speculation is that someone insisted, because
it’s “ what we’ve always done”, and that neither of the boys were
keen to join! And that’s fair enough!
But somehow they were persuaded to give it a try, and it was
announced to all and sundry that they would join the army. It
goes without saying that the Danes expected that they would
see their time in the military through!
The last bit is nothing but my speculating, but it doesn’t rule out
that there could be a flicker of truth in it!
