Monarchical Transition in Denmark: King Frederik X assumes the throne after the abdication of Queen Margrethe II

Thousands of people filled the streets of the Danish capital to witness the monarch pass the throne to her eldest son. The 83-year-old Queen surprised the nation on New Year's Eve by revealing her intention to be the first Danish monarch in almost 900 years to voluntarily abdicate the throne.

King Frederik X of Denmark assumed the Danish throne this Sunday - Photo Reproduction/Ritzau Scanpix/Mads Claus Rasmussen/Reuters

King Frederik X assumed the throne of Denmark this Sunday (14), succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who abdicated after 52 years of reign. The 83-year-old Queen's unexpected decision was announced on New Year's Eve, making her the first Danish monarch to voluntarily renounce the throne in almost 900 years.

The formalization of the succession took place during a meeting of the Council of State in parliament, where Margrethe signed the declaration of abdication. Present at the meeting were government representatives, the new King Frederik About an hour after the formal signing, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the accession of the new king, Frederick X.

The event took place on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, where tens of thousands of people gathered to greet Frederik and say goodbye to the former queen, Margrethe. At 3pm, Frederico X appeared on the balcony, being warmly received by the crowd, who applauded him and threw silver confetti. The prime minister and the population expressed gratitude to the queen who abdicated, thanking him for his reign. Praise was directed at the new king, Frederick X, and the new Queen Mary, originally from Australia. The royal couple, along with their four children and other family members, paid tribute to Margaret. It is noteworthy that Mary is the first commoner to become queen in Denmark. It is worth noting that Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies, does not hold coronation ceremonies.]

“My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow. It is a task I have approached my entire life. It is a task that I undertake with pride, respect and joy”, said Frederico, in his first speech as king.

The Reign of Queen Margrethe II

Queen Margrethe II, a revered and respected figure in the country, ascended the throne on January 14, 1972. His reign spanned decades of political, social and cultural change, witnessing the evolution of Denmark in several aspects. During her time as monarch, the Queen played a key role in preserving Danish traditions while promoting a modern, progressive image for the monarchy.

Margrethe is also recognized for her intense passion for archaeology, having participated in several excavations in places such as Italy, Egypt, Denmark and South America. She shared this fascination with her grandfather, King Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden, with whom she dedicated some time to the discovery of artifacts in the vicinity of Etruria, in 1962. In her New Year's speech, delivered on December 31, 2023, Margarida II communicated her decision to renounce the Danish throne on January 14, 2024, thus transferring it to the then crown prince Frederick.

Crown Prince Frederik

Crown Prince Frederik, eldest son of Margrethe II, was prepared from a young age to assume his future responsibilities as monarch. He is known for his active involvement in social, sporting and cultural causes over the years, contributing to strengthening ties between the Crown and the Danish people.

Initially, he attended a private educational institution at Amalienborg Palace. Later, he continued his studies in Normandy, returning to his homeland to complete his secondary education. He obtained his undergraduate degree at Aarhus University and completed his master's degree at Harvard University, both in political science. He played roles at the United Nations, participated in expeditions in Mongolia and Greenland, and served in the Danish Armed Forces.

In addition, he was actively involved in the International Olympic Committee, being an elected member since 2009. He is also the founder of a philanthropic institution that bears his name, offering financial support to political and social science students. During the 2000 Summer Olympics, Frederico met Maria Donaldson, whom he married in 2004 in Copenhagen Cathedral. The couple have four children: Crown Prince Cristiano, Princess Isabel and twins Prince Vicente and Princess Josefina.

Frederik and Mary are taking on the role at a time when they and the Danish monarchy have high approval ratings, according to polls. The newly crowned king and queen are expected to return to their residence, Amalienborg, a royal complex built in the 1750s in the heart of Copenhagen, in a carriage. Despite retaining her title as queen, Margrethe would continue to reside in Amalienborg, occupying her quarters in the respective palace within the octagonal complex.