Denmark’s prime minister proclaimed Frederick X as king on Sunday after his mother, Queen Margrethe II, formally signed his abdication.
The Queen signed her abdication in a meeting with Denmark’s cabinet after more than 50 years in office. About an hour later, her 55-year-old son and crown prince was proclaimed King Frederick X on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in the center of Denmark’s capital.
Margrethe, 83, became the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne in nearly 900 years.
Thousands of people gathered in downtown Copenhagen on Sunday to witness a historic moment in one of the world’s oldest monarchies.
Citing health problems, Margrethe announced on New Year’s Eve that she would step down, surprising those who had expected her to spend the rest of her life on the throne, in keeping with Danish royal tradition.
Margrethe underwent major back surgery in February last year and did not return to work until April.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was also unaware of the Queen’s intentions until shortly before the announcement. Margrethe informed Frederik and his brother Joachim just three days ago, Berlinske newspaper reported, citing the palace.
Danish royal expert Thomas Larsen said: “The Queen has been here and been on the throne for over 50 years, and she is a highly respected and popular figure, so the public did not expect this.” I was in shock,” he said.
The last time a Danish monarch voluntarily resigned was in 1146, when King Eric III of Rum resigned to enter a monastery. Margrethe will abdicate on the same day she ascended the throne following the death of her father, Frederick IX.
Denmark’s monarchy dates back to the 10th century Viking king Gorm the Elder, making it the oldest in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Today, royal duties are largely ceremonial.
People began to gather outside the parliament building early Sunday morning, and many were already crowding the pedestrian streets of Copenhagen’s main shopping district, which were decorated with red and white Danish flags. Several shops displayed photographs of the queen and the future king. Local media said hundreds of people from across the country were heading to the Danish capital, with some following live television coverage to witness the monumental event.
As is customary at royal events, the city bus was decorated with a small replica of the Danish flag.
Unlike England, there is no coronation ceremony in Denmark. The Prime Minister formally proclaimed King Frederik from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace. The palace houses government offices, parliament, the Supreme Court, as well as the royal stables and royal reception rooms. Thousands of Danes were scheduled to witness the proclamation from the square below.
With his abdication, Denmark will have two queens, with Margrethe retaining her title and Frederick’s Australian-born wife Mary becoming queen. Frederick and Mary’s eldest son Christian (age 18) became Crown Prince and heir to the throne.
The new king and queen left Christiansborg Castle in a horse-drawn carriage and were scheduled to return to the royal palace, Amalienborg, where Margrethe also lives in a separate building. Royal standards were to be lowered in Margrethe’s house and raised in the building where Frederick and Mary lived.
Four guns in Copenhagen Harbor were to fire 27 shots three times to commemorate the succession. Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens amusement park will celebrate the new king and queen in the late afternoon with the biggest fireworks show in the park’s 180-year history.