Denmark’s King Frederik X has ascended the throne, becoming king on Sunday and succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years as monarch.
Thousands turned out in the bitter cold to witness the 83-year-old become the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years.
Margrethe shocked the nation on New Year’s Eve when she shared her plan to step down, which had been kept top-secret up until mere days before she made the announcement.
Wearing magenta, Margrethe signed the declaration of her abdication during a meeting of the Danish Cabinet at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen then declared Frederik king, proclaiming from the palace balcony, “Long live King Frederik the 10th.”
In his first speech as king, Frederik, 55, said he hopes to become “a unifying king of tomorrow” in his role at the helm of Europe’s oldest monarchy.
“It is a task I have approached all my life. It is a task I take on with pride, respect and joy,” he said, kissing his wife as the crowd below erupted in cheers.
The abdication leaves Denmark with two queens — Margrethe and Frederik’s Australian-born wife, who becomes Queen Mary.
Frederik and Mary’s eldest son Christian, 18, is now crown prince and heir to the throne.
Margrethe made the surprise announcement on New Year’s Eve that she would step down, going against tradition in the Danish monarchy to live out her final days on the throne.
The monarch, who had undergone major back surgery last February that kept her away from work until April, told her sons just three days before the news became public.
The prime minister himself was also unaware of the queen’s plans until right before the announcement.
The new king and queen assume the throne with massive public support, according to a recent survey which found that 82% of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86% said the same about Mary.
With Post wires
