It was a historic month for Denmark, as they said goodbye to their queen of more than 50 years.
Queen Margarete II made the surprise announcement on New Year’s Eve, explaining that she wanted to take over the throne in order to modernize Europe’s longest-reigning monarchy.
And earlier this week, the 83-year-old officially stepped down from the throne and handed over her duties to her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederick, who was officially elevated to the title of King Frederick X.
But what can we expect from the new monarch? We’ve got more details about the monarch, who previously held another less-appreciated title: “Prince of the Party”…
Who is the new king of Denmark?
Frederick X acceded to the Danish throne on January 14, 2024, but unlike our monarch Charles III, Frederick did not have a formal and lavish coronation ceremony.
The 55-year-old, who speaks English, French, German and Danish fluently, was named after his grandfather Frederick IX. He was always destined for the throne, but in his youth his suitability for such a respected role was often questioned.
Nicknamed “The Party Prince” for his love of rock music, festivals and concerts (and in some ways comparable to our own Prince Harry), the royal rebel is known for much more than his princely status. He claimed that he wanted to.
“I don’t want to lock myself in a fortress,” he once said. “I want to be myself and be human.”
After studying political science at Aarhus University and several years abroad at Harvard University, Frederick X was considered to have come of age.
Like our royal family, King Frederik served in the Danish army in the 80s. His military career began in 1986 with the Queen’s Lifeguard Regiment of the Danish Army, after which he became a platoon leader.
In the 1990s he completed training with the Royal Navy’s Frogman Unit and underwent further studies and leadership training at the Royal Danish Defense College.
He currently holds the rank of Major General in both the Army and Air Force, and the rank of Rear Admiral in the Navy.
In recent years, Queen Margrethe II has taken on even greater responsibilities as a member of the royal family after a period of poor health.
The former Danish king underwent back surgery early last year, during which time he pondered the idea of abdicating.
Does King Frederick have children?
After visiting Sydney, Australia for the 2000 Olympics, Frederick, an avid sportsman, met his future wife, Mary Donaldson, in a pub. Calling himself Fred, he did not tell Mary, who was working in advertising at the time, that he was heir to the Danish throne.
The couple had been in a long-distance relationship, but married in 2004 at Copenhagen Cathedral.
Now that Frederick has ascended the throne, Mary will receive the title Queen, making her the first Australian-born royal.
The couple have four children: Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 12.
What will happen to Frederick X as king?
Considered a major modernizing force for the Danish monarchy, Frederick is a patron of the Red Cross and Save the Children. He also serves on the board of a charitable foundation that he shares with his wife, Mary.
His eldest son and heir to the throne, Prince Christian, is expected to step into royal duties when he turns 21. But for now, the new king wants Christian to just “enjoy being young.”
Like Charles III, Frederick X was a passionate environmentalist and spoke publicly about his interest in scientific research, climate change, and sustainability.
However, following in his mother’s footsteps, King Frederik’s role will be largely ceremonial, with him previously saying he will “guide the ship” as he did when Queen Margarete ascended the throne in 2022.
In his first address to the nation as king, Frederick wiped away tears and told the crowd of well-wishers: “My hope is to be the unified king of tomorrow. It’s a job I’ve been waiting for all my life.
“I need all the support I can get. From my loving wife, from my family, from you, and from something bigger than us. I face the future knowing that I don’t stand alone. .
“United and united in the Kingdom of Denmark.”
What does the British royal family say about Frederick X?
After King Charles ascended the throne, he issued a statement to Frederick X.
“I look forward to working with you to ensure that the lasting bonds between our two countries and families remain strong, and to working with you on issues of critical importance to our country and the wider world,” he said in the document. mentioned in. A statement published on the official Royal Family website.
The King wished Queen Margarete II well and added: “We look forward to future opportunities to celebrate the close ties that unite our two countries and our families.”
Kimberley Bond is a features writer for Cosmopolitan UK, covering news, culture, health and the royal family, as well as reporting on brands and writing long-form articles. In her free time, Kimberly enjoys eating literally anything, scrolling through Vinted, and forgetting to reply to every text.