Frederik X was proclaimed the new King of Denmark

Frederik X is the new King of Denmark. The 55-year-old previous crown prince was given the throne on Sunday in Copenhagen by his mother Queen Margrethe II, who in a historic step became the first Danish head in almost 900 years to voluntarily abdicate during her lifetime. With her signature under a corresponding declaration, the longest-serving reigning monarch in the world resigned as announced after 52 years of reign.

“Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II has abdicated. Long live Her Majesty King Frederik X!” proclaimed Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen three times in a row from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace. Again and again loud cheers erupted among the thousands of people in front of the castle and in the adjacent streets – before the crowd, led by Frederiksen, shouted nine “Hurrah!” proclaimed in honor of the king. Countless Danish flags were waved.

Frederik was visibly moved and had tears in his eyes. In his first speech as the new monarch, he paid tribute to his mother as queen, who will forever be remembered as an exceptional ruler. He has approached his new task his entire life and takes on the responsibility with respect, pride and great joy, he said.

“My hope is to be a unifying king of tomorrow,” said Frederik. “I approach the future with the certainty that I am not alone.” He then ended the speech with his motto: “United, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.”

• more on the subject: Frederik of Denmark: From party prince to king

A huge crowd had gathered in front of the castle for the proclamation, with particularly loud cheers breaking out when Frederik’s wife, Queen Mary (51), and the couple’s four children stepped onto the balcony. Shortly afterwards, the new royal couple drove back to the palace at Amalienborg Castle in a carriage – also accompanied by cheering crowds on the side of the road.

Surprising announcement

In her annual New Year’s speech, Margrethe unexpectedly announced that she would pass the throne on to her eldest son. This step was formally taken on Sunday at the moment when she signed a declaration of abdication at a meeting with the government. At that moment, Frederik went from crown prince to king, Mary from crown princess to queen and Prince Christian (18), the couple’s eldest son, became the new crown prince. Margrethe will retain her title of queen and will be able to step in as her son’s representative in the future if he is on a trip abroad or otherwise unable to attend.

Normally, it is customary for rulers in Scandinavia to remain on the throne for the rest of their lives. Unlike in the Netherlands, for example, abdications are extremely atypical: According to the royal family in Copenhagen, the last time a Danish regent voluntarily renounced the throne in this way during his lifetime was in 1146. At that time King Eric III. Lam abdicated in order to supposedly go to a monastery, according to the court.

Margrethe had previously repeatedly emphasized that she wanted to fulfill her role until the end of her life. However, she then had to undergo major back surgery in February 2023, which she said made her think about whether it wasn’t time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation.

“I have decided that now is the right time”

“I have decided that now is the right time,” she said, to the great surprise of the Danes, who traditionally pay close attention to her speeches on New Year’s Eve. “On January 14, 2024 – 52 years after I inherited my beloved father – I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik.”

Since the death of the British Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, Margrethe has been considered the longest-serving monarch in the world. She has been at the head of her kingdom since January 14, 1972, which includes Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. A large part of the Danish, Greenlandic and Faroese population only knew her as their head of state – until now.

Loving messages poured in from near and far for the abdicating monarch and the new king. Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf sent a telegram in which he addressed Margrethe as “Dear Cousin Daisy” – Daisy is the Queen’s nickname – and also the British King Charles III. and Norway’s King Harald V sent warm words to Copenhagen. The Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen even flagged in space: “Many thanks to Queen Margrethe for everything she has done for our country,” he wrote on social networks about a picture of the Denmark flag on board the International Space Station (ISS).

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