- Royal Run was first held in 2018 to mark Crown Prince Frederik’s 50th birthday.
- The event has taken place every year since.
- Royal Run is held simultaneously in five cities across Denmark.
- Participants can choose between three distances: one mile, 5 kilometers, or 10 kilometers.
- The inaugural event attracted 70,550 participants.
- In 2025, a new record was set with 97,786 participants.
- The Crown Prince, who has since become King, served as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 2009 to 2021.
- The King, the Queen, and their four children all take part, each running different distances in different cities.
Royal Run
Royal Run Breaks All Records
Once again, His Majesty King Frederik, former member of the IOC, celebrated his birthday by running alongside the people of Denmark. Nearly 100,000 joined the King and his family.
Once again, His Majesty King Frederik, former member of the IOC, celebrated his birthday by running alongside the people of Denmark. Nearly 100,000 joined the King and his family.
When King Frederik X of Denmark—who at the time was Crown Prince and an IOC member—turned 50 in 2018, he chose to mark the occasion with a running celebration. That year he ran with the Danish people in five different cities on the same day.
The event was called Royal Run, and it became such a success that it has since been held every year to celebrate not only his birthday but also togetherness and the joy of movement—each time with participation from the King and his family.
On July 9, the 2025 edition of Royal Run took place in the cities of Ribe, Horsens, Viborg, Korsør, and Copenhagen, and a new participation record was set. A total of 97,786 participants took part across the three distances: one mile, five kilometers, and ten kilometers.
The 57-year-old, sports-loving King, who was an IOC-member from 2009 till 2021, ran one mile in Ribe, five kilometers in Horsens, and ten kilometers in Copenhagen. His wife, Her Majesty Queen Mary, and their four children also laced up their running shoes and joined the Danish people.
Thirty percent of the participants had never taken part in a running event before. This pleases NOC Denmark, one of the event’s organizers, as Royal Run is helping to motivate new groups to become physically active.
“Royal Run is not just a sporting event. It’s an experience and an invitation into a community where everyone is welcome—regardless of pace or experience. We hope today’s experiences have inspired participants to take even more steps toward an active everyday life, and we already look forward to gathering the Danish people again for next year’s Royal Run,” says Morten Mølholm Hansen, secretary general of NOC Denmark and a member of the Royal Run organizing committee.