Written by Johannes Bill Quebec
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) – Many people in Greenland were glued to their television screens on Sunday to watch Denmark’s new king take the throne, but a younger generation dreaming of independence from its former colonial rulers I have mixed feelings about the royal family.
King Frederik X succeeded his mother Queen Margrethe II to the throne on Sunday, becoming head of state not only of Denmark but also of the kingdom’s two former colonies, Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
Despite strained relations with Denmark in recent years, the royal family remains highly popular in Greenland. In the capital Nuuk, the cultural center organized a big-screen screening attended by jubilant Greenlanders.
Kpanuk Olsen, 38, a Greenlander who lives in Nuuk, said: “Standing outside the bubble, many Greenlanders were cheering, feeling very happy and proud that Frederik had become king.” “I feel like I’m watching something,” he said.
Greenland, a Danish colony until 1953, was granted broad autonomy in 2009, including the right to declare independence from Denmark.
The independence movement has gained momentum in recent years, in part due to revelations of several wrongdoings by Danish authorities during the 20th century, including experiments in the 1950s that took Greenlandic children to Denmark. Last year, the Greenlandic government released its first draft constitution.
“Some people are dissatisfied with a lot of things in Denmark, but they still like the royal family. It’s a bit of a duplicity,” said Sascha Bridolf, a 23-year-old owner of a Greenlandic jewelry company. “It’s the norm,” she said, adding that she also watched the royal family. The successor will be broadcast live on TV.
The royal family traditionally visits the Arctic island every year, often stepping off the royal yacht wearing traditional Greenlandic costumes, contributing to their popularity.
“The royal family has ignored political opposition and helped maintain the kingdom’s unity,” said Michael Brensbo, a historian at the University of Southern Denmark.
King Frederick himself spent long periods in Greenland, including a four-month expedition on the ice sheet.
“He knows Greenland well and that should help him remain a unifying figure, which should be a priority for the new royal couple,” Brensbo said. .
Kpanuk Olsen said he hopes Greenland will eventually become independent.
“I don’t think the king will remain Greenland’s head of state in the future,” she said. “We want to have our own president.”
(Reporting by Johannes Bill Quebec; Editing by Jacob Gronholt Pedersen and Nick McPhee)