Danish press dub Christian 'Prince Grabby'

COPENHAGEN - Prince Grabby is the nickname being given to the little Danish prince by the local press after his determination to be breast fed by Crown Princess Mary during his christening.

Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John is the official name of the heir to the throne of Europe's oldest monarchy.

But Prince Pilfinger -- most directly translated as Prince Grabby -- was the name awarded by the media as he repeatedly reached for the cutting of Mary's jacket, eager for sustenance.

The local tabloid Ekstra Bladet headlined its story "Christian wanted to be fed at the church, but Mary gave him the finger", congratulating the Australian-raised princess for distracting his urgings by letting him suck on the tips of her fingers.

Such eagerness to be fed explains why the baby has gone from a birth weight of 3.5kg three months ago to almost double that now.

"Christian weighs twice as much as when he was born three months ago, he is actually quite heavy now," Princess Mary said after the christening.

"We call him Lillemand (Little Man) and yes, certainly he is easy in the night and sleeps well."

Both Mary and Crown Prince Frederik had tears in their eyes during the ceremony.

"It was a beautiful christening, that we will look back on with joy and pride," Prince Frederik said.

Mary's father John Donaldson attended with his wife Susan Moody and Mary's sisters Jane Stephens -- one of eight godparents -- and Patricia Bailey.

"It was inspiring in the church. It was a lovely day," Professor Donaldson said.

After the christening and reception, family and friends had a party back at Mary and Frederik's home of Fredensborg Palace, north of Copenhagen.

It is a running joke in Danish society that everyone has to tolerate servings of Prince Consort's Henrik's French-made wine at such royal occasions, but that was reportedly skipped this time.

Instead, Mary served up Tasmanian wine to wash down Tasmanian lobster, fois gras, venison and finished with cake in a champagne butter-cream, with guests then watching a fireworks display through the below-freezing Danish skies.

The name Christian was no surprise, as male heirs to the Danish throne have alternated between Frederiks and Christians since the 16th Century.

Valdemar is a historic name of Danish kings from medieval times.

Henri is the name of the French-born Prince Consort before it was changed to Prince Henrik when he married Queen Margerethe, but may also be a reference to Mary's late mother, Henrietta.

John is after Professor Donaldson and was quite a popular name in Denmark in the 1960s and 1970s but has gone a little out of fashion.

- AAP