Born Prince Ingolf of Denmark (Danish: Prins Ingolf Christian Frederik Knud Harald Gorm Gustav Viggo Valdemar Aage til Danmark), he appeared likely to some day become king until the constitution was changed in 1953 to allow females to inherit the crown, placing his branch of the dynasty behind that of his first cousin Princess Margrethe and her two younger sisters.

His father Prince Knud was then the heir presumptive, due to succeed Ingolf's uncle King Frederik IX, who had three daughters but no sons.

Ingolf was given the title count of Rosenborg and the style of Excellency, as was customary in the twentieth century for Danish princes who forfeited their dynastic rights.

Prior to his son's wedding, Prince Knud sought to convince his brother that Ingolf should be allowed to retain his royal title after marriage.

[3] But the king refused, on the grounds that other males of the dynasty who had been demoted to counts of Rosenborg upon marriage might try to reclaim their royal rank if Ingolf were allowed to do so, despite marrying a commoner as they had done.

[7] Count Ingolf usually takes part in major public events associated with the royal family; he and Countess Sussie attended the May 2004 wedding of Crown Prince Frederik at Copenhagen Cathedral,[8] and the subsequent reception at Fredensborg Palace.