Princess, 19, second in line to throne joins army as part of conscription amid WW3 fears

Princess Isabella may be the first woman born into the royal family since the 1940s, but that hasn't stopped her from serving her country 14:04, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Updated: 15:41, Thu, Aug 6, 2026 Princess Isabella is set to join 1,600 recruits for 11 months of military service (Image: Getty)A European princess has started her mandatory military service as countries ramp up defence spending amid fears of a third world war. Princess Isabella, the daughter of Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary, may be the first woman born into the Danish royal family since the 1940s, but that hasn’t stopped her from serving her country.At just 19, Isabella is set to join 1,600 new recruits for 11 months of military service: five months of basic training followed by six months of operational duty—and is expected to serve with the Guard Hussar Regiment in Slagelse. Denmark has started ramping up its defence build-up in response to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and Arctic security fears. It also comes in the wake of expansionist overtures by Donald Trump, who has repeatedly expressed a desire to annex Greenland. Get the latest news from around the world and more Invalid emailWe use your sign-up to p...