Denmark’s citizens gathered in front of the Parliament building in Copenhagen early Sunday to witness Queen Margrethe II, the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, hand over the throne to her eldest son, Frederick.
The Queen surprised the nation of around 6 million people on New Year’s Eve by deciding to abdicate after 52 years, becoming the first to relinquish the Danish throne in almost 900 years.
People from all over Denmark flocked to the capital, reflecting the enormous popularity of the royal family.
“Royal family means everything Danish… It’s about fairy tales and traditions,” said Anna Karina Larsen, aged 59.
No Coronation Ceremony
There will be no coronation ceremony such as that in Britain; instead, the installation occurs the moment Queen Margrethe signs the document of her abdication in favor of the Crown Prince, aged 55.
This will take place during a State Council meeting in the Parliament where the government, Frederick, and his eldest son Christian, aged 18 and the next heir to the throne, will be present.
Subsequently, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will announce the new king’s installation on the Parliament’s balcony, where Frederick will give a short speech before riding back to the palace in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by his wife.
Margrethe, who had said in the past that she would remain on the throne for life, did not specify a reason for her decision. However, she noted that a major back surgery she underwent in February prompted her to think about the future.
The new king will ascend the throne at a time when the monarchy enjoys significant popularity. The latest opinion poll conducted after the Queen announced her abdication shows that 82% of Danes expect Frederick to be successful in his new role, with 86% holding the same expectation for his wife Mary, aged 51.
