Denmark's Crown Prince Christian has successfully completed his mandatory military service, marking a significant milestone in his journey towards the throne. The 19-year-old heir, following in the footsteps of his father King Frederik X, has qualified as a Guards Hussar after enduring the rigorous REX tour, a four-day exercise that tests the limits of conscripts with minimal sleep and food rations. The Danish royal household released photos and videos showcasing the prince's dedication and resilience during the training, highlighting his commitment to his future role as king.

The REX tour, a traditional and demanding part of the military service in Denmark, involved two phases: readiness and guarding, followed by task solving under challenging conditions. Crown Prince Christian, serving as the second-in-command of his platoon, marched approximately 65 kilometers with full equipment, surpassing the standard 50 kilometers covered by his fellow conscripts. His completion of the exercise not only earned him the REX badge but also paved the way for his upcoming Lieutenant's training, set to begin in August 2025.

The royal household's announcement sheds light on the prince's rigorous preparation for his future responsibilities. Crown Prince Christian's military training is a testament to the Danish constitution's requirement for every male over 18 to complete military service, a tradition that strengthens the bond between the monarchy and the armed forces. His father, King Frederik, also underwent extensive military training, including service in elite units, underscoring the importance of military service in the royal family's preparation for leadership.

As Crown Prince Christian transitions to Lieutenant's training, his journey reflects a blend of tradition and modernity in the Danish monarchy. His recent experiences, from military exercises to conservation efforts in East Africa, illustrate a well-rounded preparation for kingship. With the royal family's support and the nation's eyes on his progress, the future king continues to embody the values of duty, service, and resilience that define the Danish royal legacy.

Finnair is gradually restoring its Airbus A321 fleet to service after an uncertified cleaning procedure forced the grounding of eight aircraft. The airline confirmed that seat covers were washed with water, a method not properly certified to ensure fire protection standards were maintained. This safety concern prompted the removal of the affected aircraft from service, leading to operational disruptions across Finnair's European network.

The situation began improving over the weekend as Finnair started installing new seat covers on the grounded aircraft. The first A321 returned to service on Sunday, operating a flight from Helsinki to Rhodes. However, seven aircraft remain out of service with no confirmed timeline for their full return. The A321s typically seat approximately 200 passengers and are crucial for Finnair's European route operations.

The grounding has resulted in significant passenger disruptions, with Finnair implementing extensive rebooking procedures. On Sunday alone, approximately 460 passengers were moved to different flights due to aircraft downgrades. The airline has prioritized high-frequency routes such as Helsinki-Stockholm and Helsinki-London, ensuring alternative options are available. In some cases, Finnair has used smaller replacement aircraft and offered incentives for volunteers to switch flights.

To manage the capacity shortfall, Finnair has wet-leased two aircraft with crews from Danish carrier DAT since Wednesday. While flight cancellations have decreased to single digits in recent days, with some days passing without any cancellations, the airline acknowledges that irregularities may continue through the coming week. Finnair is providing accommodation and compensation to affected passengers in accordance with EU air passenger rights regulations as it works to fully resolve the operational challenges.