Denmark's new King Frederik ascends the throne in ceremony
Following the abdication of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, the new King Frederik X has ascended the throne in a ceremony attended by more than 100,000 Danes.
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Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who announced her decision to abdicate in her New Year's speech, has handed over the throne to her son, Frederik X, after a 52-year reign. Many Danes gathered in the capital, Copenhagen, to witness this moment.
TENS OF THOUSANDS GATHERED IN THE CAPITAL
According to Reuters, Margrethe, the first king or queen in the approximately 900-year history of the Danish monarchy to abdicate voluntarily, officially announced her abdication by signing the declaration at the Council of State in parliament. Unlike countries such as the United Kingdom, there is no coronation ceremony in Denmark, which is one of the world's oldest monarchies.
The meeting where Frederik X officially became the King of Denmark was attended by government officials, Margrethe, her 55-year-old son Frederik, his Australian-born wife Mary, and their 18-year-old eldest son, Christian. In the country where Frederik X has officially become king, his wife Mary has become queen, and his son Christian has become the new crown prince.
Following the signing of the declaration, while Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was expected to proclaim the new king from the balcony of the parliament building and Frederik was expected to deliver a short speech, tens of thousands of people from different parts of Denmark gathered in the capital to witness this moment despite the freezing cold.
After Prime Minister Frederiksen announced from the balcony of the Parliament building that Frederik had ascended the throne, King Frederik X of Denmark and his wife, Queen Mary, greeted the public there.
"I STOOD GUARD AT THE ROYAL PALACE"
One of the people who came in front of the Parliament building to witness this moment was 30-year-old Soren Kristian Bisgaard. Bisgaard explained why he was there, saying, “We came here today because history is being written before our eyes. We had to be there.” Pilot Bisgaard, who was drinking champagne with three friends and sitting on camping chairs in front of the parliament, said, “I am very attached to the royal family. I am from the Royal Guard myself; I stood guard at the royal palace. I am proud of myself for having done that and for being here today.”
Later in the day, the new king and queen are expected to travel to the Amalienborg residence, which was built in the 1750s and is located in the center of Copenhagen.
On the other hand, it is stated that the new king and queen are ascending the throne at a time when public support for the monarchy in the country is quite high. A poll conducted at the time Margrethe announced she would abdicate showed that 82 percent of the public expected Frederik to do a good or very good job in his new role. 86 percent of the participants expressed a similar expectation for Mary.