Until a few weeks ago, Herlufsholm was one of the most prestigious schools in Denmark, attended by some of the most prestigious leaders of the small Scandinavian country.
Christian of Denmark, 16, the eldest son of Crown Prince Frederick (Queen Margaret's first son) and Mary, has been studying there for a year, after spending a decade at Tranegård public school.
And there her second daughter, Isabella, 15, who has just finished at Tranegård, was also going to start a new stage in her studies.
However, the princes have taken a turn in the education of their children after the results of an investigation by the Danish Education agency were made public in which the famous Herlufsholm is questioned for abuse.
Thus,
The accusations against the center started years ago, when there was talk of assaults and rapes that were never proven.
In fact, books have been written about the harsh discipline of the place and some media went so far as to call Herlufsholm a "concentration camp for the dysfunctional sons of the rich".
But these complaints grew a little over a month ago, in early May, when Danish television premiered a documentary called
The Secrets of Herlufsholm: Violence, Rape and Harassment.
In the footage, fifty former students recount the bad experiences they had there – the school has a semi-boarding system – at different stages, talking about bullying, violence and even sexual abuse.
A student was sentenced to six months in prison and to pay compensation for forcing a classmate to have sexual relations in the center.
Another of them, whose identity was not revealed, even said: “What happens in
Herluf
, stays in
Herluf
.
If you start gossiping you can get into trouble with other students.”
Prince Christian of Denmark, in front of Herlufsholm boarding school.Danish Royal House
Then, and although the school denied the accusations made, the questions began.
And many of them pointed to the heirs, who had Christian schooled there and who had enrolled Isabella for the 2022/2023 academic year.
Mary from Denmark then spoke that they would have to wait but that they were clearly opposed to “all kinds of insults and violence”.
In the end, in May the heirs had to issue a statement stating that "as parents" they were facing a series of "difficult considerations".
"As a family, we are overwhelmed by the unfortunate situation in Herlufsholm, and we will monitor the changes, which are obviously necessary," they said.
"Intimidation, violence and abuse are never acceptable," they stated,
explaining that her eldest son was "very happy" at that school and that Isabella really wanted to start her stage at the center.
But they also made it clear that “like all parents”, they wanted to do “the best” for their children, and that they were waiting for “more information to be able to make the right decision”.
In addition to Christian and Isabella, the couple has two other children, the twins Josefina and Vicente, 11 years old.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by DET DANSKE KONGEHUS 🇩🇰 (@detdanskekongehus)
The government investigation has already ended and a draft has been presented that, as the
dr
media explains , directs harsh criticism at the school board, which has resigned completely, for "not guaranteeing the well-being of the students."
In fact, the draft states that certain students "intimidate, humiliate and offend" many others and that "respect for equality" between people is not supported, giving some students privileges and highlighting them over others.
In fact, the school will have to pay back the state grant it has received and faces possible penalties.
This Sunday, the heirs have issued another statement.
"As we have previously announced, we are deeply shocked by the reports that have recently appeared about Herlufsholm," the princes' letter begins.
“We have also made it clear that we, as parents of a child schooled there, expect the center to do whatever is necessary to rectify these unacceptable conditions“, they add, later detailing the preliminary decision that has just been issued by the Danish Agency for Education and Quality: “Directs extremely harsh criticism from a state authority against Herlufsholm and makes demands on the school at various levels, including management.”
More information
Christian from Denmark turns 15 and poses like a teen idol
In addition, Federico and Mary explain that they perfectly understand the fact that they have been observed by the people, something that they see as "understandable when it comes to the well-being of children and young people."
“At the same time, it has been important for us to remain adamant that important decisions must be made on an informed basis.
Now we have that base," they say, explaining that according to "the general picture" and also because of their "special position" as heirs, they have decided that Christian leave the center and that "Princess Isabella does not start ninth grade at school after of the summer holidays”.
And that it will be precisely in the summer when they will make a decision, together with their children, about their “future school options”.
“Given the many students who continue at Herlufsholm,
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Herlufsholm Skole (@herlufsholm_skole)
Built on a 12th-century monastery and founded in the 16th century as a school "for sons of nobles and other honest men," Herlufsholm is in Næstved, about 90 kilometers and just an hour's drive from Copenhagen.
Congressmen, artists, photographers, journalists, actors... and also some members of royalty, such as Christian and his older cousin, Nicholas of Denmark, son of Joachim, the second son of Margaret of Denmark.
The cost of enrollment is about 20,000 euros per year and women began to be admitted in 1966 (and boarding since 1985).
Their conditions are harsh and in the documentary some boys said that they were forced to sleep, at any time of the year, with the windows open.
