Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik, unofficial prince committed to preserving monarchical traditions | International

Crown Prince Frederik, 55, will be sworn in as King of Denmark on January 14th. From that day on, he was known as Frederick X, a title that recalls Denmark’s long history of monarchy dating back to the legendary Viking kings. They were the undisputed leaders of the land that eventually formed the Atlantic Kingdom of Denmark (which today also includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands).

The abdication of his mother, Queen Margrethe II, 83, was announced this Sunday. After half a century on the throne, the monarch decided that the time had come for his successor to take over the throne. Assuming that the crown and its symbolic functions and representations of the country include a readjustment to the relaxed lifestyle that Frederick has hitherto enjoyed, it also includes a recent trip to Madrid, where Frederick He met his daughter-in-law Genova Casanova. She is the late Duchess of Alba. The future king, like his mother, is very popular among Danes and becomes head of state and head of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church.

January 14th marks the 52nd anniversary of Queen Margrethe II’s accession to the throne. Crown Prince Frederik said in a speech in 2022, on the occasion of his 50th anniversary on the throne, that he would be ready when the time comes. “I will lead the ship and follow in your footsteps just as you did in your father’s footsteps.” [King Frederik IX]” were his words.

The promise of continuation and respect for the institutions he seeks to represent takes place in a country that is nominally republican. “Republicans make up only 15% of the population, but this is because Danes associate their identity as a small nation with the existence of an ancient and revered monarchy,” says the historian and expert historian. says Sebastian Olden-Jorgensen of the University of Copenhagen. royal house. In the call, he added that the monarchy is “very popular” and that the queen’s abdication was not an attempt to resolve tensions within the royal family or contain scandals. “I think it’s a natural reaction to her declining health. Maybe she can keep up appearances for a while, but she’s witnessed her own fragility. Abdications are new in Denmark, but the Queen Few believe he has an obligation to continue abdicating.

According to Olden-Jorgensen, the current success is due to “a lineage of capable male kings and the fact that Queen Margrethe has fulfilled her role and carefully adapted the monarchy over time.” He likens the institution to a family business that has accumulated wealth (here understood as reputation and goodwill) over the years. “It depends on the members of the dynasty whether they can keep it up or not, and here the Danish royal family knows how to behave. In the end, everything depends on the character and it’s like a lottery. . Just like anyone’s life.” So what do you think about the future King of Denmark being in Spain with a woman who is not his wife, Princess Mary? “The Danes are interested in this story.” Looks like you got it.” [revealed by the magazine Lecturas] But they don’t consider it serious. It was stupid of them and if it was just one time, people would forgive and forget. ”

The fact that the prince spent the night at Genovese Casanova’s house, waiting alone on the street for a car to pick him up, was, for the prince, “part of his informal style, and that he wanted to be more careful and dignified as a king.” I think it would have to be. “A large part of the prince’s success among his compatriots lies in his non-rigorous behavior, and he will need to mature in this area,” he says. At the same time, Olden-Jorgensen recalls that Princess Mary can serve as a counterweight “because she brings her dignity.” She is respected and drives her monarchy towards causes such as defending the LGBTQ+ community and climate change conservation. ” Her husband, on the other hand, “seems to be more interested in sports and music.” The couple met in 2000 at the Olympics in her home country of Sydney, Australia, and married in Copenhagen in 2004. They now have four children who are the first line of succession to the throne: Christian (18), Isabella (16) and twins Vincent and Josephine (12). The eldest son is already popular among Danes.

Frederic André Henrik Christian, Crown Prince of Denmark and paternal Count of Montpezat, was born on May 26, 1968. He was born to Queen Margrethe II and her husband Prince Henri of French origin. His younger brother is Prince Joachim. He studied abroad in Denmark and France. He holds a master’s degree in political science from Aarhus University in Denmark and also attended his class for one year at Harvard University. Like other European rulers, he has been trained in military, air, and naval academies. According to the royal family’s website, he is a commander in the navy, a colonel in two other armies, and remains active in the field of defence. In addition to Danish, he speaks English, French and German, and adds a passion for sports to his environmental interest. His Royal Race draws nearly 80,000 members of the public each year and is one of the largest events of its kind nationwide.

His current good relationship with his mother is in contrast to the discomfort he displayed as a boy as the media focused on him as a future king. At the time, he also regretted the supposed distancing of his parents, who were more focused on royal duties than their two children. This is a similar criticism that King Charles III leveled at his late parents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Over time, the Danish and British heirs have softened their accusations, not least because concerns about their private lives have created tension within the household.

“Mother and son are very close. Yes, there was a crisis between the Queen and her second son Joachim over stripping their children of their royal titles,” admits Olden-Jorgensen. This was in line with adjustments made by other European royal families regarding the number of recipients of public funds and recipients of public funds. “In the case of Denmark, it was not done gracefully and caused pain to his sons and grandchildren. It was handled sloppily and disrespectfully.” From now on, Prince Joachim’s children, Nicholas, Felix, Henrik and Athena. . The two eldest sons from the first marriage will be free to decide their future without their actions affecting the monarchy. What will become of Joachim? “He lives in America [along with his wife, Princess Marie, and their two youngest children] And I think he will remain abroad. For some reason he has not been able to find his place in Denmark, but being second in the royal family is never easy, ”suggests the expert.

Apply our weekly newsletter Get more news coverage in English from EL PAÍS USA Edition