Royal Danish prince's stem cells saved

Seems that the Danish Monarchy believes in umbilical cord stem cell banking.

Monarchy website, A Prince is born

Royal Danish prince's stem cells saved
November 27, 2005

STEM cells from the umbilical cord of Australian-born Princess Mary's baby son have been preserved in a Denmark hospital, possibly as insurance for the child's future health.

The medical team at Copenhagen University Hospital are understood to have collected and stored cord blood from the boy immediately after his birth, The Sunday Telegraph reported today.

Crown Prince Frederik's chamberlain Per Thornit revealed the hospital had been entrusted with the baby's blood sample in a letter to a company that had offered to provide the service, the newspaper said.

Stem cells collected from umbilical cord blood has been used to treat people with life-threatening illnesses such as leukaemia.

The Palace has declined to comment.

Princess Mary's son, as yet unnamed, is second in line to the Danish throne.

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