Crown Prince Frederik is expected to be sworn in as King of Denmark within two weeks after his mother, Queen Margrethe, made a surprise announcement that she would abdicate the throne.
Queen Margrethe, currently the world’s only female monarch, handed over the throne to her eldest son Frederik in her annual New Year’s address.
January 14th marks the end of Margrethe’s 52-year reign and the day Frederick becomes king. Here’s what you need to know about the crown prince.
Who is Crown Prince Frederick?
Crown Prince Frederik, 55, was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, to Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik. He has one sibling – younger brother Prince Joachim.
Frederick is a member of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church (also known as the Danish National Church), which is a requirement for the Danish royal family, especially the current monarch.
He is known for his fast-paced lifestyle and love of cars, and has been seen as a “woke” family man since his rebellious teenage years.
Gitte Redder, an expert on the Danish royal family, said: “Strictly speaking he was not a rebel, but as a child and young man he was very uncomfortable with the media attention and the knowledge that he would become king.” ” he said. AFP News Agency.
It wasn’t until his mid-20s that he “started to feel confident,” she said. Frederick’s reputation as a party prince also began to emerge after he became the first Danish royal to complete a university education.
Where did Prince Frederick study?
He received his primary education at Krebs Skole in Copenhagen and then attended the boarding school École des Roches in Normandy, France.
In 1986, he began studying for a degree in political science at Aarhus University, which included a year at Harvard University under the pen name Frederik Henriksen, after his father.
Frederick graduated from the university in 1995 with a master’s degree in political science. He speaks English, German and French.
What did Prince Frederick do after studying abroad?
He has trained in three branches of the Danish military and also served in the Navy’s Frogman Corps. He was one of only four of his 300 recruits to pass all tests in 1995 and was given the nickname “Pingo” (Penguin). .
Frederick is also an avid skier and participated in a four-month, 3,500 km (2,175 mile) ski expedition across Greenland in 2000.
“He’s an athlete and goes to concerts and football games, so he’s more approachable than his mother,” Redder said.
In recent years, especially due to the Queen’s health, the Fredericks have taken on more of the royal duties.
Historian Sebastian Olden-Jorgensen told AFP the couple were “modern and woke people who love pop music, modern art and sport.”
Who is his wife, Crown Princess Mary?
Frederick married Australian Mary Elizabeth Donaldson in 2004.
Crown Princess Mary, 51, grew up on the island of Tasmania. She didn’t know Frederick was a prince when the two met in a bar during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Mary previously worked as a lawyer and marketing consultant.
What kind of power does Prince Frederick have as king?
Like his mother, Prince Frederick is expected to have little involvement in partisan politics. His role will mainly be ceremonial, such as making state visits and celebrating National Foundation Day.
Frederick became king of Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands.
However, formal authority remains with the elected parliament and the Danish government.
The announcement will be made from Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on Ascension Day. No formal coronation ceremony will be held.
Denmark is home to Europe’s oldest monarchy, with its lineage dating back to the Viking King Gorm, who died in 958.
The Danish monarchy transitioned from an electoral system to a hereditary system, and finally to its current form, a constitutional monarchy.
Who will be next after Crown Prince Frederick?
Prince Frederick’s next son is Prince Christian, who was born in 2005 and will turn 18 in 2023.
Frederick and his wife have four children, who mainly study in state schools.
Why did Queen Margrethe abdicate?
Queen Margrethe has hinted that she began thinking about stepping down after undergoing back surgery in February 2023.
“After undergoing surgery, I naturally started thinking about the future. Is it time to hand over responsibility to the next generation?” she said in a speech on Sunday.
Margrethe became queen in 1972, at the age of 31, after the death of her father, Frederick IX.
Her accession to the throne followed a 1953 constitutional amendment allowing women to inherit the throne.