The long-reigning monarch passed on the role of sovereign to his son, who became Frederick X.
advertisementQueen Margrethe II of Denmark signed a historic abdication on Sunday, making her son Frederik X effective immediately.
Margrethe, 83, became the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily abdicate the throne. Thousands of people gathered outside the palace where the succession was taking place, and there was an atmosphere of jubilation as the Scandinavian nation experienced its first royal succession in more than half a century, sparked by the monarch’s death. It wasn’t something.
Dressed in magenta, Margrethe met with the Danish cabinet at Christiansborg Palace and signed her abdication papers. The palace is a vast complex in Copenhagen that includes the royal reception rooms, the royal family, the Danish parliament, the prime minister’s office, and the supreme court. .
After signing the document at a table surrounded by members of the royal family and Danish government officials, she stood up, motioned for her son to take her place, and added “Long live the King” as she left the room.
The abdication will leave Denmark with two queens, with Margrethe retaining her title and Frederick’s Australian-born wife Mary becoming queen. Frederick and Mary’s eldest son Christian (age 18) will become Crown Prince and heir to the throne.
Citing health problems, Margrethe announced on New Year’s Eve that she would step down, surprising those who had expected her to spend the rest of her life on the throne, in keeping with Danish royal tradition.
Even the Prime Minister was not aware of the Queen’s intentions until just before the announcement. Margrethe informed Frederik and his brother Joachim just three days ago, Berlinske newspaper reported, citing the palace.
People from all over Denmark gathered outside parliament and many streets were decorated with red and white Danish flags.
Photos of the queen and the next king were displayed in some shops, and small Danish flags were displayed on city buses, as is customary at royal events. Many others across the kingdom of around 6 million people watched live television coverage of the historic event.
The Royal Guards Band paraded through downtown Copenhagen every day, but to mark the big event, they wore red jackets instead of their usual black.
The last time a Danish monarch voluntarily resigned was in 1146, when King Eric III of Rum resigned to enter a monastery. Margrethe will abdicate on the same day she ascended the throne following the death of her father, Frederick IX.
Denmark’s monarchy dates back to the 10th century Viking King Gorm the Elder, making it the oldest in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Today, royal duties are largely ceremonial.
Unlike England, there is no coronation ceremony in Denmark. Instead, the Prime Minister will officially declare the new monarch on the throne from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace.
Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens amusement park will celebrate the new king and queen late Sunday with the biggest fireworks show in the park’s 180-year history.
A survey commissioned by Denmark’s public broadcaster DR and published on Friday found that 79% of 1,037 people surveyed by the Epinion polling agency said they were ready to take over from Frederik. 83% said they thought his wife, Mary, was ready to take over. Become a queen. DR said the survey had a margin of error of 3 percentage points.