FIGHTING TO SAVE HER KIDS

A headline-making scandal has forced the Danish royals to make a huge decision

For Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik, the most important role they’ll ever play is that of parents to their four kids, Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

“The crown princess and I fully agree on what’s in store for the children, both now and in the future,” declared Frederik, 54, of his and 50-year-old Mary’s dedication to protecting their young family.

However, the couple’s grand plan for their children has recently hit a major sticking point after the exclusive school they hand-picked for their kids became engulfed in an abuse scandal, leaving them no choice but to pull their eldest son Christian, 16, out.

CUTTING TIES

Mary and Fred’s daughter Isabella,

15, was due to start at the extravagant Herlufsholm boarding school later this year too, but the family has now cut ties with the elite Danish institution.

The school, located south of Copenhagen, was rocked by scandal in May when a headline-making documentary revealed claims of “systematic bullying” and a “culture of abuse and violence” that saw four pupils expelled.

“The question about our son Christian and our daughter Isabella’s choice of school has been very important for us, and the unfortunate matter has brought many and strong opinions into play in the public,” the royal couple said in a statement about their shock decision late last month.

“That is completely understandable when it deals with the wellbeing of children and young people. At the same time, it has been important to stand by our basic idea

that major decisions must be made on an informed basis. We now have that basis.”

The couple said they made the “difficult” call after the release of a preliminary decision from Denmark’s National Agency for Education and Quality that issued a “particularly harsh critique” of the school.

When the allegations – including claims of sexual abuse and corporal punishment – first came to light in May, the royals declared them “heartbreaking” and “completely unacceptable”.

At the time of the initial report, the pair – who are also parents to twins Vincent and Josephine, 11 – insisted they wouldn’t be removing Christian from the school, making their perceived “backflip” on the decision only worse.

Sources tell Woman’s Day that Mary is hell-bent on doing anything she can to “protect and support” her children through what is arguably one of the family’s most high-profile scandals.

INVESTIGATION

Adding to Mary’s stress is also said to be the fact she and Frederik admitted their son Christian chose the school himself.

“We support his choice of high school,” Tasmanian-born Mary said when Christian began at Herlufsholm last August, the first future king to do so.

Meanwhile, the 500-year-old school has announced it’s launching an “independent investigation” into the allegations, while Mary and Fred said publicly they hope Herlufsholm will now “ensure the necessary changes and succeed in creating a culture in which all thrive and feel safe”.

The royal couple adds, “During the summer, we, together with our children, will make a decision about their future choice of schools.”

Already, names of alternative schools have started doing the rounds in royal circles in Denmark.

Institut Le Rosey in Rolle, Switzerland – which is known as the “school of kings” thanks to its royal alumni and its staggering $216,000-a-year school fees

– is a strong contender. As is Prince William and Prince Harry’s former school, Eton College in Windsor, which sets parents back $94,000 annually.

‘We, together with our children, will make a decision’