On Sunday, Copenhagen witnessed a historic moment as Denmark celebrated the coronation of Frederick X, according to ABC News.
Frederick X was proclaimed King of Denmark following the voluntary abdication of his mother, Queen Margrethe II. The newspaper said the event was a rare event in Danish history, making Margrethe the first monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily abdicate. ABC News.
Denmark's monarchy is one of the oldest in the world, dating back to the 10th century Viking ruler Gorm the Elder, and it is the first succession in more than 50 years that did not result from the death of a monarch. Despite their ancient lineage, the royal family's role remains largely ceremonial in modern times, the newspaper reported. (Related: New King Charles Penney draws the cruelest joke in history)
Denmark's prime minister has proclaimed Frederick X as king after his mother, Queen Margrethe II, formally signed his abdication. https://t.co/ljmV4zhaW7
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 14, 2024
The abdication ceremony took place at Copenhagen's Christiansborg Palace, a historic site that has long been the center of Danish power. Margrethe signed the official document of abdication in the presence of the government, symbolically handing over the throne to his son. In a traditional and grand ceremony, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced King Frederik's accession to the throne from the balcony of the palace, ABC News reported.
“My hope is to be the unified king of tomorrow. It's a challenge I've been working on all my life,” Frederick said in a speech, ABC News reported. “I want to repay the trust you have given me. My dear wife, I need the trust of you and someone greater than us.”
According to ABC News, the new king was later joined by his Australian wife, the new Queen Mary, and their four children. The ceremony ended with Frederick and Mary, dressed in white gowns with sashes, leaving Christiansborg Palace in a horse-drawn carriage to Amalienborg Palace as church bells rang. There they waved Danish flags and greeted jubilant crowds.
