Danish royal children withdrawn from controversial boarding school
The children of Crown Prince Frederik, the heir to the Danish throne, and Crown Princess Mary will no longer attend embattled elite boarding school Herlufsholm.
Prince Christian is to leave Herlufsholm school and Princess Isabella will not attend the school as planned from September, the Crown Prince couple said in a statement released via the palace website.
Herlufsholm has been the subject of extensive public criticism and scrutiny following a documentary by broadcaster TV2 which last month revealed a culture of bullying and abuse at the elite school.
Frederik and Mary last week said they were awaiting a fuller picture of the situation before making a final decision on whether their children would attend the school next year as planned.
READ ALSO: Danish Crown Prince couple wait for ‘full picture’ after bullying exposed at children’s school
“This has been a difficult process for us as a family. But based on the overall picture and our particular position as the Crown Prince pair, we have decided that Prince Christian will leave Herlufsholm and Princess Isabella will not start in the 9th grade at the school after the school holidays,” the royal statement read.
Prince Christian, 16, started attending the school’s Upper Secondary School (gymnasium) in 2021 and Princess Isabella was due to join this year.
Denmark gives Herlufsholm approximately 50 million kroner a year in subsidies, according to newspaper Berlingske.
The school was the focus of a TV2 documentary in May in which several former students gave accounts of bullying, violence and sexual harassment at the school.
The school’s headteacher was subsequently let go before Herlufsholm on Saturday announced its entire board would step down.
The Danish Agency for Education and Quality recently criticised the school in an initial report. Among criticism levelled at the school was the charge it had failed to adequately ensure the wellbeing of its students.
The agency is working to finalise a package of sanctions for Herlufsholm. Measures could include requiring the school to return the state subsidies it has received since December 8th, 2021 — the day agency officials visited to discuss conditions at the school with management, dormitory teachers and students, news wire Ritzau reports.
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Prince Christian is to leave Herlufsholm school and Princess Isabella will not attend the school as planned from September, the Crown Prince couple said in a statement released via the palace website.
Herlufsholm has been the subject of extensive public criticism and scrutiny following a documentary by broadcaster TV2 which last month revealed a culture of bullying and abuse at the elite school.
Frederik and Mary last week said they were awaiting a fuller picture of the situation before making a final decision on whether their children would attend the school next year as planned.
READ ALSO: Danish Crown Prince couple wait for ‘full picture’ after bullying exposed at children’s school
“This has been a difficult process for us as a family. But based on the overall picture and our particular position as the Crown Prince pair, we have decided that Prince Christian will leave Herlufsholm and Princess Isabella will not start in the 9th grade at the school after the school holidays,” the royal statement read.
Prince Christian, 16, started attending the school’s Upper Secondary School (gymnasium) in 2021 and Princess Isabella was due to join this year.
Denmark gives Herlufsholm approximately 50 million kroner a year in subsidies, according to newspaper Berlingske.
The school was the focus of a TV2 documentary in May in which several former students gave accounts of bullying, violence and sexual harassment at the school.
The school’s headteacher was subsequently let go before Herlufsholm on Saturday announced its entire board would step down.
The Danish Agency for Education and Quality recently criticised the school in an initial report. Among criticism levelled at the school was the charge it had failed to adequately ensure the wellbeing of its students.
The agency is working to finalise a package of sanctions for Herlufsholm. Measures could include requiring the school to return the state subsidies it has received since December 8th, 2021 — the day agency officials visited to discuss conditions at the school with management, dormitory teachers and students, news wire Ritzau reports.
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