Written by Bridie Pearson-Jones Mailonline
13:49 05 January 2024, 13:53 05 January 2024 Updated
While King Charles’ coronation was a grand affair, with heads of state from around the world witnessing the grand ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Denmark’s transfer of power will be a much more low-key affair.
Queen Margrethe announced that she would abdicate on January 14th and that her son, Crown Prince Frederik, would take the throne.
However, unlike his fourth cousin Charles, Frederick would not get the pomp and circumstance or grand ceremonies, but instead a simple balcony look from Christiansborg Palace.
On the day of the move, a meeting of the State Council will be held at Christiansborg Palace from 2 p.m.
This will be followed by King Frederik X’s proclamation from the balcony of Christiansborg Castle.
Finally, the royal color transfer The tour will take place from the palace of Christian IX in Amalienborg Palace, the home of Queen Margrethe, to the palace of Frederick VIII.
Further details will be announced in the coming days.
Yesterday, Queen Margrethe II completed her final official duties before her abdication, riding through Denmark’s capital in a golden carriage.
Europe’s longest-reigning monarch, 83, announced in a dramatic New Year’s Eve speech that he would step down on January 14.
In a picturesque scene like a fairy tale,On Thursday, thousands of people waved flags and braved subzero temperatures, high winds, snow and sleet to cheer on the popular queen in her final public appearance as king.
The king will hand over the throne to his eldest son, Crown Prince Frederick, in the first step in Europe’s oldest monarchy in nearly 900 years.
Margrethe rode on a so-called gold coach pulled by six white horses. The carriage will be used to transport the King from his residence at Amalienborg Palace to Christiansborg Castle during traditional New Year’s celebrations with military officers and former soldiers. Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Helle Thorning-Schmidt, among others.
The cane-wielding monarch wore a fur coat and white gloves inside a closed 19th-century carriage covered in 24-carat gold leaf and topped with four golden crowns.
They were escorted by members of a light cavalry regiment in blue uniforms with red jackets.
Five hours later, Margrethe left Christiansborg Palace in a golden carriage and returned to her residence at Amalienborg Palace.
Earlier this week, Queen Margrethe hosted a series of events welcoming the Danish government, parliament, top civilian and military officials, and diplomats.
Christiansborg Palace is used for official royal functions such as gala dinners and public audiences, and also houses the Danish Parliament, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the Danish Supreme Court.
It is located about 800 meters from Amalienborg Palace.
The Queen will officially sign her abdication on January 14 at the Council of State, a meeting with the Danish government, making Frederick, 55, and his Australian-born wife Mary, 51, King and Queen of Denmark.
In some European countries, monarchs have abdicated to allow younger royals to take over, but Denmark has no such tradition.
For years, Margrethe has insisted she would not quit.
But her health changed that.
In her annual televised New Year’s speech on December 31, Margrethe said she would “think about the future” following back surgery in early 2023 and consider when she would hand over the responsibilities of the throne to her son. He said that it has become like this.
“We decided now was the right time,” she said.
When she took the throne after her late father Frederick IX in 1972, only 42 percent of Danes supported the monarchy.
According to the latest survey, 84% of Danes support the country either very or somewhat.
She was joined by her son-in-law and daughter, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, as she arrived at Christiansborg Palace for traditional New Year’s celebrations this morning, trying to be cheerful.
After yesterday’s frosty reception, 51-year-old Mary appeared to have had a change of heart, her nervous expression replaced by a beaming smile.
The second day of celebrations saw the 55-year-old Crown Prince Frederik join his wife at a reception for members of the Armed Forces and the National Emergency Management Agency.
The couple appeared positive as they entered the event side by side, greeting officials, representatives of major state institutions and royal patrons.
It’s been a turbulent few years for the Danish royal family. Margarete’s resignation comes two months after photos were leaked of Crown Prince Frederik enjoying a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid in October.
The rumors began after Prince Frederick was photographed enjoying a night out in Spain with his friend Genoveva Casanova without his wife.
The family took a pre-Christmas holiday to visit Mary’s home countries of Australia and New Zealand.
Before her family boarded the plane from New Zealand, Princess Mary shared a cryptic post about loneliness and the need for positive relationships ahead of Christmas.
In a letter posted on the Mary Foundation website, the future queen reflected on the past year, saying it felt shorter than usual.
“And at the same time, so much happened that it’s impossible to put it all into words,” she continued.
Excerpts shared on the Danish royal family’s official Instagram account led to speculation that the princess was using her foundation to hint at rumors of an affair.
“We need each other to succeed. And that doesn’t just apply to the working world and those of us working to combat social isolation.”
“This is true for all of us. Humans need humans.”
The post and powerful words were accompanied by a gorgeous photo of the royal family in the snow.
She wore a purple jacket under a warm wool wrap and flashed a soft smile for the camera.
“The Danish Royal Family is lucky to have you. I hope your husband understands the immeasurable embarrassment he has caused you and his children. You are a worthy queen. You can be,” one fan commented.
Another wrote: “I think this is a sad year for Mary, with her husband’s (alleged) betrayal becoming public.” What a brave woman she is, she can handle anything. I just adore her. ”
Some people defended the royal family and asked people to stop talking about the allegations.
There has been speculation that Queen Margrethe’s abdication was motivated by her son’s marriage to Princess Mary following an alleged affair.
Casanova has denied the allegations of having an affair with Frederick.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier told the Telegraph: “The Queen may have taken this action because she feared the marriage would break up and the royal family would lose Mary.” Ta. That would have caused big problems.
“The Queen has always seen Mary as a great resource.”
The prince and the Australian princess have been rocked by rumors of infidelity since November, with their “fairytale romance” now exposed.
In 2022, Margrethe had a public rift with Joachim after Joachim stripped his four children of the throne. She later apologized for the timing of the announcement but stood by her proclamation.
In the days that followed, Joachim spoke out against his mother’s decision, claiming that his children from his first marriage to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg, had been “harmed” in the process.
Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted there had been a “lack of communication” within the royal family leading up to the bombshell announcement.
“There’s a lot of work to be done,” Joachim told local news outlet BT. What was missing was communication. Now we have met and are on the right path. ”
Shortly after the children were stripped of his title, Joachim claimed that he was given only five days’ notice before the news was made public.
After the Queen’s announcement, Joachim gave an interview to Danish publication Ekstra Vlade in front of the Danish embassy in Paris, explaining that he lives with his French-born wife, Princess Marie, and his two youngest children, and that his four children live with their grandmother. He said he was “hurt” by the decision. .
“I was given five days’ notice to tell them that.” In May, I was presented with a plan that, broadly speaking, would come true when each of my children turned 25. . Well, I only had 5 days to tell them that. Athena will turn 11 in January,” he revealed at the time.
Meanwhile, his ex-wife Alexandra said her sons Nikolai and Felix felt “expelled” from the facility and the decision was like “a bolt out of the blue”.
The royal family issued a further statement, saying: “As the Queen said yesterday, this decision has been a long time coming.”
“We know there are many emotions at stake at this time, but we hope that the Queen’s wishes to protect the future of the Royal Family will be respected.”