Just a few days ago, she radiated joy at the celebrations for her 18th birthday, full of anticipation for a new chapter in life. But stepping into the spotlight also brings risks for Princess Isabella. Now, the Danish palace is taking action.
As the daughter of King Frederik, 56, and Queen Mary, 53, she has long been familiar with public life. Since early childhood, Princess Isabella, 18, has taken on minor official engagements – mostly within a family context. She first attracted broader media attention during her confirmation in 2022. However, with the festivities marking her coming of age this April, the younger sister of Crown Prince Christian, 19, stepped into the limelight alone for the first time. A true spring awakening for the young woman – but one that also comes with unwelcome consequences.
Princess Isabella Loses Her “Puppy Protection”
The “puppy protection” is over. Isabella is now an adult. This ends an unspoken agreement between the royal household and the press. The princess’s privacy could now be seriously invaded by lurking photographers. As a minor member of the royal family, her anonymity outside of official engagements had been respected. Now, the media will likely lift their self-imposed restraint and scrutinize her life much more closely.
Moreover, her status has changed with her coming of age. Isabella is now second in line to the Danish throne, following Christian. This means she can now serve as a regent and represent the King in his absence, just like her brother. Two strong reasons for the palace to significantly tighten security measures for the princess.
“The royal family is our highest representative of democracy. The royal family is represented by a family – and that’s why we protect this family,” explains Jesper Lundorf to B.T. He knows what he’s talking about: in the 1990s, Lundorf served for seven years as the bodyguard of then-Crown Prince Frederik. In 2015, he published the biography “I majestætens hemmelige tjeneste” (“In Her Majesty’s Secret Service”) and now gives lectures, including about his time with the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET).
“More Focus on Her Safety”
Lundorf emphasizes that security concerning the royal family is not about individual members, but about the role they fulfill within the protected institution. Regarding the new security measures for Isabella, he explains: “Before her 18th birthday, she wasn’t in a position to represent her parents or her older brother. Now she can. That’s the difference. And that’s why security is being enhanced.”
This decision did not come out of the blue for the princess; she has been prepared for it. Lundorf is confident that the new measures will not significantly impact Isabella’s daily life away from her royal duties. “It will primarily concern the official responsibilities she now assumes,” he says, adding: “There will be more focus on her security during these duties, while she will retain much more freedom of movement in everyday life compared to her older brother.”
While the King, Queen, and Crown Prince Christian are always accompanied by several bodyguards, it is a matter of discretion whether Princess Isabella will have bodyguards at school, according to Lundorf. “A daily risk assessment is made to determine whether security measures need to be increased or reduced compared to everyday needs. Although I am no longer part of the inner circle, there are currently no signs of a direct threat against her.” Nevertheless, closer attention will be paid – discreetly: “If she attends a major school event, there will certainly be someone nearby – but they will stay quietly in the background.”
Social Media as a Risk Factor
Isabella’s new role as a potential regent is crucial; that much is clear. “Security will be treated more consistently now that she is of age, because, as mentioned, it’s the function being protected,” says Lundorf. He adds that the princess will definitely be assigned a person who will design a security concept specifically tailored to her. “I’m not sure she will always have bodyguards – maybe only in special situations,” he says. “Otherwise, there will be a kind of security coordinator managing that part of her daily life.”
Another emerging challenge is Isabella’s presence on social media. By deliberately inviting a large number of young people to her birthday parties, where mobile phones were allowed, the princess also boosted her online popularity – a risk.
The release of a photograph taken by Queen Mary, showing Isabella in full gala attire holding a mobile phone, also rings alarm bells for Lundorf: “I noticed the new photo the royal family published as a thank you to her birthday guests, showing her with a mobile phone. It’s a new side of the royal house – being more open and accessible. But it’s a fine line when it comes to public presentation. What you build up over ten years can be destroyed on the internet in ten seconds.”
Nevertheless, Lundorf is confident that the royal household’s communications department is fully aware of these risks. “You can accidentally share vacation photos with friends that end up in the wrong hands – and suddenly you have a problem that you can’t control,” explains the former royal bodyguard. “That’s one of the new challenges. You have to include your digital lifestyle in everything.”
