Princess Isabella of Denmark Begins 11‑Month Military Service

Princess Isabella, the 19‑year‑old eldest daughter of King Frederik and Queen Mary, reported for duty on 3 August at the Guard Hussar Regiment in Slagelse, becoming the first female member of the Danish royal family to undertake the country's newly expanded conscription program. The service lasts 11 months, up from the previous four‑month term, and now includes women for the first time, a change linked to heightened security concerns after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and tensions in the Arctic.

Isabella chose to forgo the usual conscript salary and daily allowance, driving herself to the barracks in a black SUV and arriving in casual attire. The reform aims to raise annual conscript numbers from 5,000 to 7,500 by 2033 and to achieve full gender equality in military obligations, as outlined in Denmark’s 2024‑2033 Defence Agreement.