After Queen Margrethe II announced her sudden abdication in a New Year’s Eve speech, Sky News looks at what we know about her son Frederik as he prepares to take the throne in January.
Monday 1 January 2024 15:38, United Kingdom
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark will ascend to the throne on January 14, following the sudden abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe II.
The 55-year-old prince, a married father of four and a passionate environmentalist, speaks four languages and has recently stepped up his royal duties.
But the man who loves rock concerts and was once dubbed the “party prince” didn’t necessarily seem ready for it. Take over Europe’s oldest monarchy.
Here, Sky News looks at the future king. Denmark – And what his reign will be like.
“Party Prince”
Queen Margrethe’s eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, was always destined for the throne.
But as a young man in the 1990s, he developed a reputation as the “prince of the party.”
He graduated in political science from Aarhus University and is said to have grown during his time there.
As part of my course, I studied at Harvard University in the United States from 1992 to 1993.
His military education began in 1986 with the Queen’s Lifeguard Regiment.
In 2010, he was appointed Commander of the Navy and Captain of the Army and Air Force.
Crown Prince Frederik continues to serve as a member of the National Defense Force.
Preparing to become king
Marie Ronde, royal correspondent for Danish broadcaster TV2, said Crown Prince Frederik was not necessarily “ready” for his future role as monarch.
She told Sky News: “He himself said that when he turned 18, he was totally unprepared for what was going to befall him at that point.
“He has spent a lot of time preparing – getting used to the fact that this is his life’s challenge and he has put a lot of effort into it.
“I don’t know if you’d call him the party prince now, I think he’s changed a lot, but that’s what he was then.”
The prince, who also speaks English, French and German, has taken on more responsibilities in recent years, particularly during Queen Margrethe’s recent illness.
“Queen of Denmark steps down”
“She had hip surgery a year ago and he took over a lot of her work,” Ronde said.
“He said he was like his mother’s ‘comrade.’
“He has a long military education, likes rock music, goes to concerts and festivals, is very interested in sporting events. In that sense, he is very different from his mother.”
his family
Prince Frederik is the eldest child of Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Prince Henrik, who passed away in 2018.
His younger brother, Prince Joachim of Denmark, is one year younger than him.
In 2022, Queen Margrethe stripped Joachim’s four children of their royal titles, saying it was “necessary to protect the future of the monarchy”.
The move did not affect Crown Prince Frederick’s children, who all hold peerage titles, and did not affect succession to the throne.
Frederick first met his wife Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, in a bar during the war. sydney 2000 Olympics.
of Australian person– The born princess worked in the advertising industry before meeting the prince.
The couple married in 2004 and have four children: Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 12.
Ronde believes the crown princess will be “a very strong queen.”
She said: “It has been clear over the years that his wife, Crown Princess Mary, has always been extremely supportive of him and has been by his side. queen camillaher role king charles. ”
As for the eldest son, Prince Christian, it is unclear how his role will change when he becomes crown prince.
Ronde added: “I’m really excited about the role of my son, Prince Christian, because the royal family says he won’t officially take on any role until he’s 21. “I want them to stay young and young,” he added. . ”
read more:
Queen of Denmark apologizes for stripping her grandson of royal title
Queen Margrethe’s reign in photos
What kind of king will he be?
Although the monarch is the head of state, the Danish constitution strictly prohibits involvement in party politics.
However, since the COP15 climate conference was held in Copenhagen in 2009, the Crown Prince has been working on global climate and environmental issues.
Ronde believes that once the crown prince officially becomes King Frederick X, he will become “the people’s king.”
“He meets a lot of Danes on the go and is very good at talking to them,” she said.
”[Queen Margrethe] She is also the queen of the people and people really like her, and I think he will too. ”