The eldest daughter of Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark did a very un-royal thing last week.
In case you missed it, Princess Isabella caused a stir at the Smukfest music festival in Skanderborg when she was pictured wearing a T-shirt with an expletive.
The translated text on the tee from Danish hip-hop group Suspekt read, ‘F***ed him yesterday,’ accompanied by an arrow pointing to the side. The slogan is a reference to one of the band’s songs.
As pictures of the 18-year-old princess circulated on social media, royal watchers were stunned.
There were even whispers that the royals were trying to prevent the images from being sold by the photographic agency.
Danish political commentator Jarl Cordua was one of the first to weigh in.
Cordua wrote that while he understood the need for royals to relax occasionally, he also believed there were ‘limits’ – and argued Isabella’s distasteful shirt crossed a line.
Princess Isabella of Denmark was caught on camera at the Smukfest music festival wearing a band T-shirt with the translated slogan, ‘F***ed him yesterday’
This rare misstep from the Danish royal family had the potential to become a public pile-on.
But then, something unexpected happened.
The tide swiftly turned and there was a noticeable public sway in Isabella’s favour, with many arguing the T-shirt gave the public a rare window into her true personality.
Long-time royalist and renowned Danish TV personality Jim Lyngvild was among the first to pick up on the shift from outrage to amusement, declaring it a ‘brilliant’ move.
‘It’s the best PR initiative for the Royal House in many, many years,’ he told B.T.
‘I love that our royal youngsters also have personality and courage – and don’t follow the neat pleated flow,’ Lyngvild wrote on social media.
‘The time of the ladies in the hat is over, Princess Isabella is in.’
Lyngvild’s sentiment echoed a broader emerging feeling that the unexpected decision humanised, popularised and endeared the new generation of the royal family – and especially the rising star of the family, Princess Isabella.
Initially, pictures of Isabella partying at the festival raised eyebrows among royal pundits. But the sentiment soon shifted, and she was praised for being an authentic modern royal
Princess Isabella’s appearance at Smukfest was a far cry from her official 18th birthday portrait
‘It shows that there is a new king who has – in many ways – an ordinary family that represents today’s values,’ Lyngvild said.
‘We have mirrored the Royal House in hats, tea parties and pleated skirts that were popular in the 1950s, and that is over.
‘The king says he will be a king of tomorrow, and this is the proof.’
Lyngvild was also convinced the move may have raised Princess Isabella’s standing further.
‘[The royals] are really popular, so they must be doing the right thing,’ he noted.
‘I think if you did a poll now, [Princess Isabella] would surpass Queen Mary in popularity.’
Lyngvild concluded that ‘no other princesses in the world’ would ‘dare’ to do what Princess Isabella did.
Life in the ‘paparazzi country’
Now, on to another young European princess who has recently come under intense photographic scrutiny.
Within days of arriving in Australia, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway was snapped carrying a box of prosecco. The Norwegian press has since dubbed Australia ‘the paparazzi country’
The future queen is studying a three-year undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway has travelled halfway around the world to study at the University of Sydney.
The 21-year-old’s unlikely decision to pursue her studies far beyond the European realm certainly caught Norwegians off guard.
The arrival of a future queen in the hallowed halls of St Andrew’s College – affectionately known as Drew’s – attracted instant media attention.
Shortly after settling into her new digs, the royal was captured on camera carrying a case of prosecco while en route to campus.
Aussie media quickly dubbed her the ‘party princess’. In response, the Norwegians are calling Australia ‘the paparazzi country’.
Having Ingrid Alexandra’s every public move closely monitored by Sydney paparazzi doesn’t come as a surprise to Norwegian royal experts.
‘She just has to accept that in today’s media world,’ TV 2 royal expert Ole-Jørgen Schulsrud-Hansen told Norwegian newspaper Nettavisen.
‘Unfortunately, it is not something you can avoid.’
Nettavisen’s royal expert Tove Taalesen agreed this level of attention would likely be the new normal for Ingrid Alexandra – and that studying abroad was as much about education as it was a crash course in ‘media management’.
Before departing for Australia, Princess Ingrid Alexandra was pictured in full royal finery while attending a gala dinner with her parents at the Royal Palace in Oslo on June 23
‘All young people deserve to be young and irresponsible,’ Taalesen said.
‘But when you are born to be a symbol and role model, it comes with a price: private life does not automatically come with the move.
‘Ingrid Alexandra is not just new to the student city – she is a public figure in a paparazzi country.’
In what is perhaps an echo of Princess Isabella’s recent festival partying episode, the royal expert noted that getting a glimpse into Ingrid Alexandra’s university experience isn’t such a bad thing.
‘It might actually make her more human,’ Taalesen said.
‘Everyone loves a princess who lives her life – let the girl be a student and enjoy life.’
Meanwhile, the big question in both Norway and Australia is whether Ingrid will return to Europe in three years’ time with more than just a degree.
As previously noted by Daily Mail gossip columnist Lucy Manly, the Bachelor of Arts at Sydney Uni has long been nicknamed the ‘husband-finding course’.
And I’m told several ambitious young men at St Andrew’s College have been trying their luck with the young princess – only to be politely rebuffed with the sort of tact you’d expect from royalty.
‘She’s been telling them, “I see you all as little brothers,'” says one source.
Her diplomatic rejections have sparked whispers she may already be taken.
At Friday night’s Kennedy Awards – the annual celebration of Australia’s best journalism – reporters were overheard speculating about a story that may soon break in the tabloids.
‘I hear she’s dating a Paul’s boy,’ one extremely well-connected reporter and USyd alum was heard saying while queueing for a cab outside Randwick Racecourse.
That’s St Paul’s College, for those not in the know.
All unverified chatter at this stage, of course. But remember – you read it here first!
School is back in session – but one royal is dipping out
The summer holiday certainly ended with a bang for the Danish royal household.
First, we had King Frederik and Queen Mary enjoying a very, very extended break in the south of France.
But any chance of them holding onto those relaxed holiday vibes was presumably washed away the minute they cast their eyes on those photos of their eldest daughter wearing a sweary T-shirt to a music festival.
The Danish royal family announced this week (with presumed relief) that Frederik and Mary’s children will be resuming their studies now the summer break is over.
Crown Prince Christian, 19, will continue his education in the Armed Forces, with the heir to the throne working towards qualifying as a lieutenant.
The headline-grabbing Princess Isabella, 18, will commence her final year at Øregård Gymnasium. ‘The princess will graduate in the summer of 2026,’ the official update confirmed.
Youngest son Prince Vincent, 14, returns to Tranegårdsskolen in Hellerup, where he is now in grade eight. He and his twin sister, Princess Josephine, have both attended the school since 2017.
Curiously, this year Vincent won’t be joined by Josephine.
Danish royal twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine have, until now, both attended Tranegårdsskolen in Hellerup. Vincent will return there to commence grade eight, but Josephine has made a change and decided to attend boarding school Spir Efterskole
Princess Josephine’s new boarding school is three hours away from Copenhagen and is renowned for its dance and drama subjects. Royal watchers believe these performance-based classes will appeal to the teenager
‘Her Royal Highness Princess Josephine has chosen, according to her wish, to continue her schooling in 8. Class at Spir Boarding School,’ the royal family confirmed.
While the exact reason why the princess opted to change schools is unknown, perhaps the reason lies in some distinguishing features of Spir Efterskole.
The school, a three-hour drive from Copenhagen, is renowned for its day starting at 8.45am, kicking off with an hour-and-a-half of exercise sessions.
The first official class then commences shortly after 10am, with the delayed routine reportedly devised to better suit the natural body clock of a teenager.
It also offers dance and drama, with royal watchers speculating these subjects will appeal greatly to the young princess.
Josephine has already shown a flair for performance, making her acting debut on Danish television in the Christmas special Tidsrejsen 2 (Time Travel 2).
- Additional reporting by Joseph Scrimshire