King Frederick X of Denmark assumes the throne following the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe II.

Margrethe left the room with tears in her eyes and said, “God bless the king.”

Denmark, one of the world’s oldest monarchies, doesn’t have a coronation ceremony, but the day’s events still had some glamorous moments.

After his abdication, the new king was proclaimed king by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on the balcony of the parliament building at Christiansborg Castle, with the words “Long live His Majesty Frederik X.”

Frederik, wearing a ceremonial military uniform emblazoned with medals, addressed the crowd from the balcony.

“My hope is to be the unified king of tomorrow. It is a task that I have worked on all my life. It is a task that I approach with pride, respect and joy,” he said.

Frederic was visibly moved, repeatedly wiping tears from his eyes as he spoke about the royal family’s motto of “United and Dedicated to the Kingdom of Denmark,” which is said to underpin the new monarch’s 500-year reign. He ended his speech by saying that this is a tradition.

On Frederick’s balcony are his wife Mary (51 years old), who was born in Australia and is currently the Queen, and their children (Christian (18 years old), the new heir to the throne, Princess Isabel (16 years old), 13 years old). Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

The royal couple met in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics and kissed before exiting the balcony in near-freezing temperatures to thunderous cheers from tens of thousands of spectators in the capital. .

“They did very well. I think it was very good that they ended with a kiss. The whole square was filled with love and joy at that moment,” said one woman, who gave her name only as Marie.

The new king and queen will take the throne amid growing public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy in this country of approximately 6 million people.

“It’s really exciting that ordinary people like us can become queens. It’s so exciting!” said Judy Langtree, a retiree waiting outside Christiansborg. She flew in with her granddaughter from Brisbane, Australia to watch her inheritance.

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Despite the freezing winter weather, large crowds gathered along the procession and outside Christiansborg to catch a glimpse of the new monarch, some wearing warm parkas and wrapping themselves in Danish flags.

Copenhagen police have closed several metro stations in central Copenhagen for safety reasons to prevent more people from entering the crowded streets.

The new king and queen will continue to live with Margrethe, who will retain her title of queen, at Amalienborg Palace, albeit in their own palaces within the octagonal complex.

Margrethe has said in the past that she would remain on the throne for life, but did not give a reason for her decision to step down, but said that major back surgery she underwent in February had caused her to think about her future.

This is the second time a Danish monarch has resigned, the last being Eric III in 1146, some nine centuries ago.

Aske Julius, 27, from Copenhagen, called Margrethe “the embodiment of Denmark, the soul of the nation.”

“More than half of Denmark’s people don’t know anyone other than the queen,” he says.

Portraits and banners around the capital thanked the Queen for her years of service, and cheeky signs on the subway proclaimed: “Thank you for your ride, Margrethe.” Some people read “Long Live the King.”

Apart from the abdication, the protocol was similar to previous royal successions in Denmark. No foreign dignitaries or royalty will be invited, and there will be no coronation or throne for the new monarch.

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Margrethe chose to abdicate the following day, exactly 52 years after taking over from her father Frederick IX.

“This day has a lot of symbolic meaning,” said Cecily Nielsen, royal correspondent for Danish public broadcaster DR.

The Queen surprised Denmark by announcing her abdication in her annual New Year’s Eve televised address, after repeatedly insisting she would follow tradition and rule until the day she died. She even informed her own family about it only three days ago.

Experts say passing the baton to his son now will give him time to blossom into his role as monarch after gradually increasing his responsibilities.

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“She thinks the crown prince is fully ready to take over. And she wants to avoid a situation like the one in the UK, where Prince Charles became King Charles after he was over 70.” said historian Lars Hofbacke Sorensen.

Frederick, who, like his mother, has been crown prince since the age of three, enjoys the support of more than 80% of Danes.

He is expected to bring his own style to the monarchy, which dates back to the Viking era in the 10th century.

“He understood that he could not imitate[the queen]and he succeeded in defining his own image and his connection to the Danish people,” said another historian, Beau Lidegaard. said.

His mother is known for her love of art and is an accomplished writer and artist, while Frederick is an avid sportsman who champions environmental causes.

In Denmark, the monarch’s role is largely ceremonial, but he signs laws, formally presides over the establishment of the government, and holds regular cabinet meetings.

Additional reporting by Reuters