Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark attend a reception at Christiansborg Palace on Jan. 4.Photo:MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty
MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty
DidQueen Margretheof Denmark giveCrown Prince Frederika 72-hour notice about her abdication and his accession?
In a surprise revelation to a local newspaper, the Danish Royal House’s head of communications said that Queen Margrethe told her sons Crown Prince Frederik andPrince Joachimthat she was stepping down just three days before she shared the news with the world. The 83-year-old Queenshocked Denmarkwhen she used her annual speech on New Year’s Eve to announce that shewas abdicatingon Jan. 14 and that Frederik would become king.
Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark greet the diplomatic corps during a New Year reception at Christiansborg Palace on Jan. 3.IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty
IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty
Frederiksen was said tocompletely changeher New Year speech to discuss the Queen’s abdication. Though the prime minister’s annual address typically focuses on domestic issues and government plans for the year ahead, Frederiksen instead spoke about how Queen Margrethe brought the people of Denmark together for over 50 years years. Margrethe became Queen at age 31 on Jan. 14, 1972, following the sudden death of her father King Frederik IX, and 52 years later, the Jan. 14 date will now double as Frederik’s accession anniversary with the change of reign.
Queen Margrethe will also become the first Danish sovereign to voluntarily step down from the throne in nearly 900 years, according to theDanish Royal House. Historian Mie Ellekilde speculated that the gravity of the announcement made Queen Margrethe wait to tell her inner circle.
“In Denmark, we don’t have a tradition of abdications, so it seems quite outrageous that Crown Prince Frederik hasn’t had more than three days to get used to the idea of being the country’s new monarch after the Queen has made her decision,” Ellekilde toldBerlingske. “Otherwise, one could well imagine that it is such a decision that the Queen would like to consult with her successor to find out if he is ready to take on that responsibility. Although he has known it would come one day, it is still a huge upheaval in his life.”
Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Prince Christian of Denmark, and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark at the balcony of Amalienborg Palace on Prince Christian’s 18th birthday on Oct. 15, 2023.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary stepped out on Jan. 1 for the New Year’s banquet at Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen for their first public appearance since the abdication announcement.
Queen Margrethe gave a wave as she entered the palace, while Frederik and Mary smiled as they arrived together.
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UnlikeKing CharlesandQueen Camillain England, the royal couple won’t have a coronation ceremony. Instead, Queen Margrethe will sign a declaration of abdication at a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace on Sunday afternoon, and Frederik will immediately become king. A proclamation of the new reign will then be made from the palace balcony, where the prime minister will announce King Frederik as monarch.
Courtierspreviously confirmedthat Queen Margrethe’s son will be called King Frederik the 10th, and his wife will be known as Queen Mary. Their 18-year-old sonPrince Christianwill become the Crown Prince of Denmark, and their three younger children,Princess Isabella, 16, and twinsPrince VincentandPrincess Josephine, 13, will all move up a spot in the line of succession.
Prince Vincent of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Prince Christian of Denmark, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Isabella of Denmark and Princess Josephine of Denmark at the balcony of Amalienborg Palace on Prince Christian’s 18th birthday on Oct. 15, 2023.Patrick van Katwijk/Getty
source: people.com
