With Queen Margrethe currently focusing on her recovery from back surgery, Prince Frederik has quietly been experiencing a little taste of life at the top.
And far from relishing a preview of his future as monarch while his mother recovers, sources say the 54-year-old wasn’t exactly inspired by his brief promotion.
Indeed, when the first in line to the Danish throne attended a military event on behalf of 82-year-old Margrethe, he couldn’t have looked less interested.
“You got the feeling the crown prince didn’t want to be there,” says an onlooker. “He looked bored.”
One Amalienborg Palace insider reveals that “Fred is counting down the days” until Margrethe is back on her feet.
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Margrethe has been in poor health.
(Image: Getty)Reports now reveal the queen is recovering well and plans to be back to work on her 83rd birthday on April 16.
“For Fred, that day can’t come soon enough,” confesses a palace sleuth, adding rumours are swirling that he is planning a getaway as soon as the Queen returns.
Fred’s lukewarm approach to his brief stint as stand-in sovereign has left some courtiers concerned he won’t be up for the job when the time comes.
“It’s soon going to be time for Fred to fulfil his birthright, which he’s had five decades to prepare for,” says an insider. “But there is the real worry that he’s still not ready.”
WATCH: The Danish royal grandchildren wish their grandma, Queen Margrethe, a Happy 80th Birthday. Article continues after video
It’s understood that Fred is still reeling from the public fallout with his younger brother Prince Joachim, who is in the process of moving his family to the US after scandalous reports suggested he was furious over his children’s royal demotion. What’s more, the controversial spare is said to have evaded royal responsibilities for years but enjoyed a handsome wage – believed to be $834,000 a year – from the Amalienborg Palace purse.
Now it seems Fred might have more in common with his brother than he would like to accept.
‘He doesn’t want to get involved in the drama’
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A shake and a smile is what you usually expect from the royals, but it seems even that has been too much to ask from Fred, who has offered up nothing but a glum face recently.
(Image: Getty)LOOMING DESTINY
“Fred has long enjoyed his mother bearing the lion’s share of responsibility, and truly, the past few years have been taxing,” confesses a source. “He doesn’t want to get involved in the drama, he doesn’t want to go to exhausting events to inspect polished brass, he just wants to keep living a manageable life. His destiny is looming, and he’s not too sure he wants it any more – with the title comes a lot of responsibility.”
A separate source close to Aussie-born Mary, 51, also reveals that her husband has not held back on his emotions of the situation.
“Mary is worried about it, given they’ve been working towards this moment ever since they married, but she’s got a plan to whisk him away for an early summer vacation,” reveals the insider, who says it’s important for her to have Fred let his hair down before things become serious.
Despite Mary’s pleas, Fred seems to prefer a life of luxury to one of duty.
(Image: Getty)