After Queen Margrethe’s abdication, Frederick X is proclaimed King of Denmark.

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by isabel keene

Denmark’s King Frederick X took the throne on Sunday, succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who officially abdicated after 52 years as king.

Thousands of people braved the freezing cold to watch the 83-year-old king become the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate the throne in nearly 900 years.

Margrethe shocked the nation on New Year’s Eve by announcing her plans to resign, but the plans were kept top secret until just days before the announcement.

Margrethe, dressed in magenta, signed the abdication declaration during a meeting of the Danish cabinet at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen then declared Frederick the king from the balcony of the palace, proclaiming “Long live Frederick X.”

In his first speech as king, Frederick, 55, said he wanted to be the “unifying king of tomorrow” in his role at the helm of Europe’s oldest monarchy.

“This is a challenge I’ve worked on all my life. This is a job I approach with pride, respect and joy,” he said, kissing his wife, as cheers erupted from the crowd below. Ta.

His abdication leaves Denmark with two queens: Queen Margrethe and Frederick’s Australian-born wife Queen Mary.

Frederick and Mary’s eldest son Christian (18) is currently the Crown Prince and heir to the throne.

Margrethe made the surprise announcement on New Year’s Eve that she would be stepping down to spend her final days on the throne, breaking the traditions of the Danish monarchy.

The king, who underwent major back surgery in February last year and was out of work until April, told his sons just three days before the news became public.

The Prime Minister himself was unaware of the Queen’s plans until shortly before the announcement.

The new king and queen will take the throne with massive public support, but 82% of Danes expect Frederik to do well in his new role, while 86% of Danes expect Mary to do well in his new role, according to a recent survey. % answered that they were the same.

with post wire