Royal Profile:Count Christian of Rosenborg

Count Christian of Rosenborg was born 22 October 1942 as Prince Christian of Denmark and Iceland, and the younger son of HRH Knud, Hereditary Prince of Denmark  and Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark. Upon his birth, he was in line for the throne ahead of his cousin Princess Margarthe and her sisters due to male-preferential succession. However, in 1953, the Danish succession laws changed to allow Princess Margarethe and her sisters to inherit the throne{Source}.  With the thoughts of him ever inheriting the throne being at the forefront, Prince Christian chose to forfeit his rights to the throne by marrying without consent of the monarch and Council of State.

Permissions were not sought because it was expected to be denied as his fiancee was an untitled an untitled commoner {Billed-Bladet, (Interview with Count Christian of Rosenborg), 1985, Danish}. At that time, he was given the title Couunt of Rosenborg and the style Your Excellency.

He was married to Anne Dorte Maltoft-Nielsen on 27 February 1971. Together, they had three children, who gave them seven grandchildren:

• Countess Josephine Caroline Elisabeth of Rosenborg (b. 29 October 1972), married 1998 with two children:
• Julius Christian Emil Schmidt af Rosenborg (2001) 
• Clara Dorte Elisabeth Schmidt af Rosenborg (2004) 
• Countess Camilla Alexandrine Cristine of Rosenborg (b. 29 October 1972), married 1995, four children: 
• Anastasia Caroline Amalie Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 24 November 1997) 
• Ludwig Christian Mikael Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 5 June 2000) 
• Leopold Christian Ingolf Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 15 April 2005) 
• Theodor Christian Emanuel Rosanes af Rosenborg (b. 19 June 2008) 
• Countess Feodora Mathilde Helena of Rosenborg (b. 27 February 197), married firstly in 2004  and divorced in 2005, without issue. Feodora married secondly on 8 September 2008  one daughter: 
• Caroline-Mathilde Margrethe Rønnow af Rosenborg (b. 1 February 2009)

Over the last few years, Count Christian and his wife have attended many family events such as his 1st cousin 1x removed's (Crown Prince Fredrik) wedding in 2004, the memorial service for Empress Maria Feodorovna in 2006, the celebrations for the 75th birthday of Henrik, Prince Consort in 2009 and the ruby jubilee celebrations for his niece, Queen Margarethe in 2012. Other than that, the Count has primarily led a private life.

Count Christian died at Gentofte Hospital in Hellerup, Denmark

According to the Official Danish Monarchy website, the funeral will take place Wednesday, 29 May 2013 at Lyngby Church just north of Copenhagen {Source}. Also according to the Official Danish Monarchy website, the following members of the Royal Family will be in attendance: Queen Margarethe II, Henrik, Prince Consort, Princess Benedikte & Princess Marie {Source} Crown Princess Mary is presently visiting Maylasia, Crown Prince Fredrik is in Russia, and I have no idea where Prince Joachim or Prince Richard (Richard-Benedikte's husband) or Benedikte's children are. I also imagine that the above listed children (and perhaps some of the grandchildren?) will be there.