A new king for Denmark. The previous King Margrethe II signed his certificate of abdication in Copenhagen. His son Frederick ascends the throne.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicated the throne to her son Frederik after 52 years of reign. The 83-year-old signed his resignation in Copenhagen. His 55-year-old son, the current Crown Prince Frederick, will succeed him as King Frederick X.
The previous crown prince then symbolically took his mother's place at the table. “God save the king,” Margrethe said as she left the hall, then returned to Amalienborg Palace. The transition to the throne has now been formally completed and the previous Crown Prince Frederik is the new King of Denmark.
Symbolically, Frederick X, the previous crown prince and current king, took his mother's place at the table. The previous monarch, Margrethe II, left the room.
Frederick's wife Mary, who was of Australian descent, was thus transformed from Crown Princess to Queen. His eldest son, 18-year-old Christian, takes the title of crown prince.
Frederick went with his family on a balcony
At 3pm, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen officially proclaimed Frederick X as the new king from the castle's balcony. “Long live the king,” shouted the prime minister, during the announcement of the change of thrones on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. Following this, there was loud cheering among thousands of people in front of the palace. “Hurray! Hurray! Hurray!” echoed across the palace square and into the neighboring streets.
Frederick seemed very emotional and had tears in his eyes. Finally he waved from the balcony with his wife, the new Queen Mary. Their four children came to the balcony.
Margrethe announced his decision at short notice
This is the first time in nearly 900 years that a Danish monarch has voluntarily abdicated. Margrethe announced her resignation in her New Year speech. He justified the move by the major back surgery he is due to undergo in February 2023. The surgery made him think about whether it was time to pass on responsibility to the next generation, the king said in his speech, which is traditionally closely followed by the Danish public on New Year's Eve.
Even Prime Minister Frederiksen was not informed of the Queen's plans to pass the throne to her son until shortly before the announcement. The heir to the throne, Frederick and his brother Joachim, was informed three days in advance, the “Berlingske” newspaper reported, citing the royal palace.
An unusual step in Denmark
This move is highly unusual in Denmark: unlike in the Netherlands, for example, abdication before death is not usually customary in Scandinavian royal families. According to the royal family in Copenhagen, the last time a Danish ruler voluntarily abdicated was in 1146. Margrethe repeatedly insisted that she wanted to fulfill her duties until her death.
Margrethe was 31 when she ascended the Danish throne on January 14, 1972. A few hours earlier, her father, King Frederick IX. Died of lung infection.
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