Denmark’s new head of state Frederik X (55) was welcomed into his new office by parliament the day after the change of throne. For the first time in his new role, the king visited the Folketinget in Copenhagen on Monday, which responded to the proclamation “Long live His Majesty King Frederik X.” by Parliament Speaker Søren Gade with a unanimous nine-time “Hurray!” replied.
To the king’s surprise, the Danish Radio girls’ choir then sang in the hall for the royal family. In addition to Frederik, Queen Mary, Crown Prince Christian and the resigned Queen Margrethe II, her sister Princess Benedikte and Frederik’s brother Prince Joachim were also there.
In a message from the monarch, which Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen read out for him, Frederik promised, together with Mary, to devote all their efforts to serving the Danish kingdom in the time given to them. “It is our hope that we will succeed in making an effort for the benefit of the entire Reich community and in winning the trust of the people,” Frederik said through the head of government. In addition to the actual country of Denmark, the kingdom also includes Greenland and the Faroe Islands, which were represented in the parliamentary gallery by their respective prime ministers.
Frederiksen delivered the royal message because it is tradition in Denmark that only members of parliament speak from the speaker’s chair at the Folketinget. In her own comments, she also had some warm words for Margrethe, who sat behind her son. The Queen has proven that the past and present are two sides of the same coin, said Frederiksen. “Now the next generation will lead us into the future.”
In a very unusual step for Danish standards, Margrethe abdicated early on Sunday after 52 years of reign, leaving the throne to her eldest son Frederik. Hundreds of thousands of people then celebrated the new royal couple with the proclamation from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace and a carriage ride through the streets of Copenhagen.
