I think that Christian, Elisabeth, Catharina-Amalia and Ingrid Alexandra must also know English. It is likely that Estelle is also learning English.
Does anyone know what languages young monarch heirs are learning?
Estelle? Absolutely. English is pretty much a second language in Sweden.
And language skills are crucial for royals nowadays. In fact it has always been crucial.
Only 100 years ago you would have had real problems finding a prominent royal anywhere in Europe who couldn't speak at least two languages - fluently.
There are so many good reasons, for anyone, to learn a second language. For royals it is simply a must.
Apart from that most of the royals are related or personal friends and they need to talk and write each other from time to time. So learning English is the absolute minimum requirement. Christian and Alexia have been singing and dancing in a video, so they no doubt speak English among themselves.
The teenage heirs may also learn Chinese (Mandarin) and perhaps Spanish, since so many on this planet have these two languages as their first language.
Christian is AFAIK fluent in English. English speaking mother, family who are English speakers and an English nanny early on.
He may also learn French, since at least a part of his family are French and the whole DRF, excluding Mary, are fluent in French.
We don't know yet, whether Christian will share his father's love for Greenland, but if he does, he may learn at least basic Greenlandic.
Christian will at least be able to understand Norwegian and Swedish by now. And he may learn German as well, because Germany is a neighbor and the most important trading partner Denmark has.
"Today, Prince Felipe piloted a 'Euroflighter' fighter-bomber for the first time, considered by Defense to be the most modern combat aircraft in the Air Force, which the heir to the throne of Spain has described as "the perfect machine".
What I mean is that he continued as he will, his specialization for years when he can and will continue to be in contact with the military all his life.
Can you imagine a future king acting as a military pilot in any war? I doubt it. Thank you (1)
On the other hand, I forgot to comment that we would never be disappointed if Leonor suffered an injury while in the army. I don't see the reason for this "disappointment" when thousands of soldiers go through the same accidents. (2)
I allowed myself to shorten your quotes and add numbers. ?
It's not a question of denying what you say, I just don't agree. And that's the whole point of this forum. It's nothing personal.
Are you saying King Felipe learned not only to fly, but became a fully qualified fighter pilot in just one year? Including learning dog fighting, bombing, night flying, reconnaissance flying, intercepting and survival training?
More likely he learned to fly a Eurofighter in one year, which sounds much more plausible to my skeptical mind. But not becoming a qualified combat pilot.
There is a considerable difference here.
Leonor, just like her father, would have to learn to fly from the very beginning. Propeller airplane, training jet, before even being allowed at the controls of a fighter. That takes a long time of intensive training.
There is a reason why so few people make it to fighter pilot.
That is if she even share her father's interest and skills in flying, which is far from certain.
(1) You are right. There is no way in this world an heir would be allowed fly combat missions.
There is the risk of being shot down and taken prisoner. Imagine Leonor in the hands of Islamic State or some militia in Sahara. The thought alone is nightmarish!
But there are also diplomatic concerns: Spain ends up being at war with Never Never Land. Leonor is deployed and drops bombs, destroying things and killing people. Can you imagine Leonor (or any other heir) visiting that land ten years later, officially representing Spain, when she has actually killed people there?
Then there is the risk of killing civilians, or killing soldiers from your own side. It happens all the time in war. And if it's an unpopular war, Leonor (or other heirs) may face demonstrators holding signs saying: Baby Killer!!
- So heirs won't be deployed in combat.
(2) I think your post illustrates my point, in regards to expectations.
I understand and applaud your respect and fondness for Leonor, but she is not Rambo, nor is she a super-woman. She is a fifteen year old girl. A human being with strength and limitations like all human beings.
I simply do not subscribe to the idea that heirs can just pursue any military career, like being a tank driver or fighter pilot. No, they can't. One or two of the current heirs may be able to join an elite force - perhaps.
But taking it for granted that this is something they can just do, that's having way too high expectations of them.
You may not be disappointed. But do you speak for the rest of the Spanish people? Or the Spanish press?
When I think about some of the things the Spanish press has written, and been allowed to write, about Queen Letizia, I don't expect Leonor will get any mercy or understanding.
It would be wonderful news if they learned Spanish in school, because what was said last year is that George could count "from one to ten" in Spanish ... which is not a big deal.
If you study it at school, I congratulate you because it is the second most widely spoken language in the world after Chinese, although to be bilingual you need more than internships in a school, but I honestly love the idea that at least , have some notions.
I imagine the Dutch princesses will speak a Castilian-Argetino (which is like an English-American) since their mother is Spanish-speaking.
Do the little princes of Denmark speak French like their grandfather? I would love to know.
English entered the Spanish royal family through Alfonso XII, and then to please Queen Ena, who by the way, say the daughters of the Queen Consort Victoria Eugenia, that her mother spoke Spanish very well, and that only her it cost a bit of work "las g and la j"
I believe that the Crown Princess of Belgium will surely speak the three official languages of Belgium, which are French, German and the Flemish variant of Dutch.
It is known that Nikolai and Felix have studied French at school. Henrik and Athena are of course fluent in French.
Not sure about M&F's children.