Editing Frederick VIII of Denmark (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Det Gule Palae Copenhagen.jpg|thumb|left|Frederick's birthplace, the [[Yellow Palace, Copenhagen|Yellow Palace]] in Copenhagen]] 
Prince Frederick was born on 3 June 1843 in the [[Yellow Palace, Copenhagen|Yellow Palace]], an 18th-century [[town house]] at 18 [[Amaliegade]], immediately adjacent to the [[Amalienborg]] Palace complex, the principal residence of the [[Danish royal family]] in the district of [[Frederiksstaden]] in central [[Copenhagen]].{{sfn|Thorsøe|1891|p=327}} He was the eldest son and child of [[Christian IX of Denmark|Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg]] and [[Louise of Hesse-Kassel|Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel]]-Rumpenheim.<ref name=bp>{{cite book|author-link=Hugh Massingberd|last=Montgomery-Massingberd|first=Hugh|year=1977|title=Burke's Royal Families of the World|volume=1|location=London|publisher=[[Burke's Peerage]]|isbn=0-220-66222-3}}. pp. 69–70.</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url= https://www.kvinfo.dk/side/597/bio/1915/origin/170/ |title =Louise Vilhelmine Frederikke Caroline Augusta Julie
|website= Dansk Kvindebiografisk Leksikon|access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref> His father's family was a [[cadet branch]] of the Danish royal [[House of Oldenburg]], which was descended from [[Christian III of Denmark|Christian III]] and which had ruled as non-sovereign dukes in [[Schleswig-Holstein]] for eight generations. He was baptised on 22 June with the names ''Christian Frederik Vilhelm Carl'', and was known as Prince Frederick.<ref name="kongeligedaab">{{cite book|first1=Lone|last1=Hindø|first2=Else|last2=Boelskifte|title=Kongelig Dåb. Fjorten generationer ved Rosenborg-døbefonten|trans-title=Royal Baptisms. Fourteen generations at the Rosenborg baptismal font|publisher=Forlaget Hovedland|year=2007|isbn=978-87-7070-014-6|page=87-88}}</ref> To the family he was known as ''Fredy'' throughout his life.{{sfn|Smidt|2020}}

[[File:Christian IX of Denmark and family 1862.jpg|thumb|left|Christian IX of Denmark with his wife and their six children, 1862. Left to right: [[Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)|Dagmar]], Frederick, [[Prince Valdemar of Denmark|Valdemar]], [[Christian IX of Denmark|Christian IX]], [[Louise of Hesse-Kassel|Queen Louise]], [[Princess Thyra of Denmark|Thyra]], [[George I of Greece|George]] and [[Alexandra of Denmark|Alexandra]].]]
He had five younger siblings: [[Alexandra of Denmark|Alexandra]] (1844–1925), [[George I of Greece|William]] (1845–1913), [[Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark)|Dagmar]] (1847–1928), [[Princess Thyra of Denmark|Thyra]] (1853–1933) and [[Prince Valdemar of Denmark|Valdemar]] (1858–1939). Although they were of royal blood,{{efn|His parents were both great-grandchildren of [[Frederick V of Denmark]] and great-great-grandchildren of King [[George II of Great Britain]].}} the family lived a comparatively normal life. They did not possess great wealth; their father's income from an army commission was about [[pound sterling|£]]800 per year and their house was a rent-free [[grace and favour]] property.<ref>Duff, David (1980). ''Alexandra: Princess and Queen'' (London: Collins) {{ISBN|0-00-216667-4}}, pp. 16–17.</ref> Occasionally, [[Hans Christian Andersen]] was invited to call and tell the children stories before bedtime.<ref>Duff, p. 18.</ref>

In 1853, it was clear that the main line of the Oldenburg dynasty would become extinct with [[Frederick VII of Denmark|King Frederick VII]], who was elderly and childless. Frederick's mother was very close to the succession, as she was a niece of the previous Oldenburg king, [[Christian VIII of Denmark|Christian VIII]], through [[Princess Charlotte of Denmark|his sister]]. With the other heirs from the [[House of Hesse]]-Kassel having renounced their claims to the Danish throne in favour of Louise, who in turn relinquished her own claim, his father was eventually chosen as the heir presumptive. Accordingly, Frederick was created a Prince of Denmark.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.kongernessamling.dk/en/amalienborg/person/christian-ix/ |title =Christian IX|website= Amalienborg |access-date=1 November 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Carrol, Lewis - Frederick, Kronprinz von Dänemark (Zeno Fotografie).jpg|thumb|upright|Frederick photographed by [[Lewis Caroll]] in 1863 during his stay in [[Oxford]].]]
On 19 October 1860, he was [[confirmation|confirmed]] together with his sister [[Alexandra of Denmark|Princess Alexandra]] in the [[Christiansborg Palace Chapel|chapel]] of [[Christiansborg Palace]].{{sfn|Thorsøe|1891|p=327}} After his confirmation, Prince Frederick was given an extensive military education, pursuing a career in the [[Royal Danish Navy]] alongside his brother [[Prince Valdemar of Denmark|Valdemar]]. In 1863, Frederick was sent to study political science at the [[University of Oxford]], but returned to Denmark upon his father becoming king in November that year. As heir apparent to the throne, he was given a seat in the [[Danish Council of State|State Council]] and subsequently assisted his father in the duties of government. In 1864, he formally took part in the [[Second Schleswig War]] against [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussia]] and [[Austrian Empire|Austria]].

The crown prince was a member of the [[Danish Order of Freemasons]], serving as its [[Grand Master (Masonic)|Grand Master]] from 1871 until his death.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Kjeldsen |editor-first=Jørgen|title=I Guld og Himmelblåt – Frimureriet i Danmark gennem 250 år, 1743–1993|location=Copenhagen, Denmark|publisher=Den Danske Frimurerorden / Nyt Nordisk Forlag|edition=2|date=1993|pages=161–174|language=da|isbn=87-17-06379-5}}</ref>