This Sunday, Denmark welcomed Frederick X as its new king during a ceremony which took place at the Parliament in Copenhagen. Thousands of people gathered around the Amalienborg complex, which houses the royal family’s palaces, to watch the proclamation live. The crown prince, 55, succeeds his mother, Queen Margaret II, 83, who remained on the throne for more than five decades. The center of Copenhagen was marked off as a pedestrian zone by the police, and the streets along the route were filled with citizens who came to watch the events and Frederick of Denmark’s first speech as monarch from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, which houses the parliamentary seat.
King Frederick His first words were a reminder of his mother, Queen Margaret II, “who knew how to unite with her kingdom”. “I hope to be the king who knows how to unify,” emphasized the new monarch, who also indicated that he hopes to reciprocate the trust he receives. Shortly before his speech, Frederiksen recalled that being king and queen of Denmark “is a link in a long chain of more than 1,000 years.” “We greet the new head of state with joy for his life and his work: he is a king that we know and in whom we trust,” he assured. He then wished King Frederick X long life with the usual three cheers.
The Danish monarchy is very popular and, according to polls, 82% of the population believe that Frederick will do a good job. The abdication of Margaret II surprised the Danes on December 31 because she had always declared that she had no plans to leave the throne. In a televised speech, the Queen admitted that the passage of time “leaves its mark” and said the time had come to give way to the heir.
This Sunday, the focus is on Frederick and his wife, Princess Mary, who will be queen consort. The proclamation events began at 1:35 p.m., when the couple began the transfer from Frederick VIII’s palace to Christiansborg Palace – the new heir, Prince Christian, 18, and his three brothers, made the journey in another car ―. The first mansion is part of the Amalienborg complex, consisting of four identical buildings overlooking the same courtyard and is the residence of the Danish royal family. The heir wears a gala uniform for his proclamation and his wife is dressed in white. A few minutes later, Queen Margaret II left the palace of Christian IX (also in Amalienborg) towards the Parliament. Frederick and Mary traveled by car, and Marguerite II by carriage and escorted by a mounted squad from the hussar regiment of the royal guard.
Newly proclaimed monarch Frederick X is transported by carriage with his wife, Queen Mary of Denmark, from the Danish Parliament to Amalienborg Palace.JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (AFP)Princess Josephine waves as she and her siblings Prince Vincent, Princess Elizabeth and Crown Prince Christian arrive at the Danish crown residence following the proclamation.Martin Sylvest Andersen (Getty Images)The equestrian squad of the Royal Guard Regiment escorts the carriage with the new monarchs to Amalienborg Palace.Mads Claus Rasmussen (Ritzau Scanpix/AP/Lapresse)Royal entourage with the new monarchs Frederick X and Mary of Denmark, from the palace headquarters to the Danish royal residence.Martin Sylvest Andersen (Getty Images)Kings Frederick and Mary greet their children Princes Elizabeth, Christian, Josephine and Vincent from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace.Sean Gallup (Getty Images)King Frederick X and Queen Mary of Denmark wave from the balcony of Parliament. Martin Meissner (AP)Participants in the proclamation of the new monarch watch the greeting of the Danish royal family this Sunday from Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.Martin Meissner (AP)Frederick X and Mary of Denmark kiss from the balcony of the Palace of Parliament. Martin Meissner (AP)The new monarch greets the public gathered in front of Parliament. WOLFGANG RATTAY (Reuters)Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen appears on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace as she proclaims the new King Frederick X.WOLFGANG RATTAY (Reuters)Queen Margaret II of Denmark (left) leaves Parliament towards the palace of Christian IX, where she returns after more than half a century of reign.NIKOLAÏ LINARES (AFP)Marguerite II leaves the session of the Council of State after signing the declaration of abdication. First Frederick, heir to the Danish crown.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN (EFE)Soldiers line up in front of the Danish Parliament building on Sunday.Martin Meissner (AP)The Queen hands over the presidency of the table to the heir after signing the declaration of abdication.
MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN (EFE)Participants in Frederick’s coronationRITZAU SCANPIX DENMARK (via REUTERS)Margaret II signs the declaration of abdication at the Council of State at Christiansborg Palace with heir Frederick and Prince Christian.Mads Claus Rasmussen (AP/ Ritzau Scanpix/ Lapresse)Queen Margaret II of Denmark is transported by carriage through the center of the Danish capital to Amalienborg Palace for her abdication.RITZAU SCANPIX DENMARK (via REUTERS)The crown prince, during the journey from Brockdorff Palace to the headquarters of the Danish Parliament before his proclamation this Sunday.RITZAU SCANPIX DENMARK (via REUTERS)Citizens photograph future kings Frederick and Mary of Denmark during the procession from Amalienborg Palace to the Danish Parliament building.JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (AFP)Queen Margaret II of Denmark is escorted this Sunday by the mounted squadron of the Hussar Guard regiment to Christiansborg Palace, seat of the Danish Parliament.RITZAU SCANPIX DENMARK (via REUTERS)Entourage of Queen Margaret II of Denmark through central Copenhagen. Sean Gallup (Getty Images)Queen Margaret of Denmark greets citizens gathered in the center of the Danish capital this Sunday. Martin Meissner (AP)Danish citizens held the coronation in front of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen this Sunday.Mads Claus Rasmussen (Ritzau Scanpix/AP)The guard of honor prepares before the proclamation of Queen Margaret II’s heir at Amalienborg Palace, residence of the Danish royal family.Martin Sylvest Andersen (Getty Images)The public gathered in front of Christiansborg Palace, seat of the Danish Parliament, to follow the proclamation of the future King Frederick X.Sean Gallup (Getty Images)Portrait of Queen Margaret II in a window in Copenhagen this Sunday.JONATHAN NACKSTRAND (AFP)Danish flags fly at Christiansborg Palace, the seat of Parliament, in Copenhagen.Martin Meissner (AP)The public gathered in the center of Copenhagen to witness the coronation of Frederick X this Sunday.WOLFGANG RATTAY (Reuters)Two Australian children look at the portrait of the future Danish kings, Frederick and Mary, in central Copenhagen. Sean Gallup (Getty Images)A woman emerges from a crowned portico in the center of the Danish capital.WOLFGANG RATTAY (Reuters)A woman smiles behind the window of a cafe displaying a photograph of Queen Margaret in Copenhagen.Martin Meissner (AP)Atmosphere on Amalienborg Palace Square, with citizens waiting to follow the proclamation of Frederick as king this Sunday in Copenhagen.Martin Sylvest Andersen (Getty Images)
At 2 p.m., according to the official program published by the Danish Royal House, the meeting of the Council of State began, during which Margaret II signed her abdication from the throne, while the public filling Parliament Square sang the National anthem. Before leaving the Council of State room, Margaret of Denmark declared: “May God save the king.” His son became Frédéric
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The car in which he arrived at Parliament is now reserved for the return of the new kings to the palace of Frederick VIII. The proclamation itself was made by Prime Minister, Social Democrat Mette Frederiksen, on the balcony of Parliament, in front of an audience that began gathering early in the morning. It was here that the sovereign delivered the first speech of his reign. Danish monarchies usually have a motto, which can be known later.
The latest poll, published by the Danish news agency Ritzau, indicates that the new kings enjoy the support of more than 80% of the population. 82% of those questioned believe that Frederick X is ready to reign; 86% say his wife, Mary, will be a good queen consort. Born in Australia, the couple met in 2000 during the Sydney Olympic Games. They have four children: the new heir, Prince Christian, and his three siblings, Isabel (16 years old) and the twins Vicente and Josefina (13 years old).
With this change of the Danish crown, the seven European monarchies – Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark – have men at their head. For the next generation, however, five queens emerged, including Leonor, today Princess of Asturias.
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