Denmark’s King Frederik X has ascended to the throne following his mother, Queen Margrethe II’s resignation, appearing emotional as he waved to the thousands who came to the capital, Copenhagen, to witness the beginning of a new era.
Many Danes had only known his mother Margrethe as a monarch. However, her surprising abdication after more than five decades on the throne cleared the way for her son, former Crown Prince Frederik, to succeed her.
Margrethe signed a statement of her abdication, officially handing the throne to Frederik, during a cabinet meeting at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, the Danish capital.
Denmark’s King Frederik X Takes The Throne After Abdication Of Queen
Despite the cold weather, large crowds gathered in Copenhagen’s streets, with the occasional burst of song reverberating across the crowds as they waited for the historical moment.
Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, then officially proclaimed the King’s accession from the palace balcony, a ritual that dates back to the 1849 constitution.
After the proclamation, Frederik delivered a brief address before being joined by his Australian-born wife, Queen Mary and their four children, including Crown Prince Christian, the new heir to the throne.
“Today, the throne is passed on. “My ambition is to become the unifying king of tomorrow,” Frederik stated. His mother, he declared, “will be remembered forever as an extraordinary regent.”
Prime Minister Frederiksen extended “a deepfelt and devoted thanks” to Queen Margrethe on behalf of the nation.
“Being queen and King is a link in a more than thousand-year-old chain. When one steps aside, the next is ready. And the crown prince who has now become our monarch is a king that we know, like, and trust,” she stated.
Kasper Wiigh Larsen, 45, was among the thousands of people lined the capital’s streets. “It brought tears in a joyful way to see him do so well up on the balcony, both with his speech and when Mary came out and held his hands and finished with a kiss,” a source told Reuters.
Britain’s King Charles III, crowned last summer, welcomed the new King and queen.
“I look forward to working with you on ensuring that the enduring bond between our countries, and our families, remains strong, and to working together with you on issues which matter so much for our countries and the wider world,” he wrote in his letter.
Margrethe, aged 83, was Europe’s oldest reigning monarch and the world’s last reigning queen. In a breathtaking live address on New Year’s Eve, she announced the end of her historic 52-year career.
She stated that after a recent back surgery, she had considered “whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation” and had decided “that now is the right time.”
The queen appeared distraught, saying, “God save the King,” as she signed the Council of State, gave up the throne, and fled the room.
Denmark’s King Frederik X Takes The Throne After Abdication Of Queen
According to the Danish Royal House, Margrethe will continue to be titled as Her Majesty and can be appointed acting regent. This implies she can execute her duties as head of state when neither King Frederik nor Crown Prince Christian is available, such as if they are away. Other Danish royals who can serve as acting regents if necessary include Mary, Frederik’s brother Prince Joachim, and his aunt, Princess Benedikte.
While the Danish monarchy is one of Europe’s oldest, dating back over a thousand years, there is no traditional crowning ceremony. As a result, foreign leaders and high-profile dignitaries did not attend, with the Danish transition being a far less dramatic event than King Charles III’s coronation in May.
Nonetheless, the streets were packed with fans enjoying the spectacle.
Denmark is a constitutional monarchy; the royals serve as significant but symbolic ambassadors and sign new legislation. The elected parliament and its government are situated at Christiansborg Palace in the middle of Copenhagen, the capital.
On Sunday, King Frederik X paid his final visit as crown prince and left Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands as their governing King.
Birgitte Borup, culture editor at Danish newspaper Berlingske, told CNN that the transfer between monarchs will be “very different” from 1972 “simply because the queen is still alive.”
“For the first time in 900 years, a Danish king or queen has abdicated.” It will be a more celebratory affair than the last time a young Margrethe took over,” she stated. “The queen’s decision to abdicate was shocking, but most Danes seem to understand that she wants to pass on the torch due to declining health.”
In Denmark, monarchs seldom abdicate. The last Danish King to do so was King Eric III, who gave up the crown in 1146 to join a monastery. However, the tradition is more frequent in other European royal houses.
Borup stated that Denmark was “entering a new modern era” and that, while Frederik had broad support from Danes throughout his tenure as crown prince, he would have work to do as monarch.
Denmark’s King Frederik X Takes The Throne After Abdication Of Queen
“He might continue to make the monarchy more accessible to the public. His greatest job will be to keep the monarchy popular and relevant in the coming years.
Back in Denmark, the royal couple gained followers and tried to modernize the monarchy, raising their four children – 18-year-old Christian, 16-year-old Isabella, and 13-year-old twins Vincent and Josephine – in as normal a manner as possible and sending them to public schools.
The Danish royal family is less formal than its British counterparts. They have been commended for their down-to-earth demeanour and are frequently seen out and about, shopping, dining, or riding bicycles in public, just like the rest of the population.
These topics covered by Frederik and Mary’s responsibilities covered climate catastrophe, sustainability, public health, and women’s and girls’ rights, which have helped them gain popular trust.
Borup stated that Mary may not have been born a royal, “but you’d think she was.”
“She carries herself with such grace and is an amazing representative for the nation of Denmark,” the Berlingske culture editor wrote. “She is known for always being well-prepared and has taken on some significant duties, such as raising awareness about domestic abuse.
“When Mary and Frederik met in Australia, the notion went that she was fortunate to run across a fairytale prince. I believe time has proven he was much lucky.”
SOURCE – (CNN)
