After Margaret II’s decision to step down… What do we know about the next King of Denmark?
Queen Margaret II of Denmark announced yesterday (Sunday) that she will abdicate the throne on January 14, after 52 years of her reign, and that she will be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik. The Queen made the surprise announcement live during her traditional New Year’s Eve speech, which was watched by many in the country of 5.9 million people.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark last September (AFP)
The Queen added, “I have decided that this is the appropriate time, on January 14, 2024, 52 years after succeeding my beloved father, to step down as Queen of Denmark.” She continued, saying: “I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederick,” according to a report by the Reuters news agency. So what do we know about the King of Denmark who will soon take office?
Crown Prince Frederik was known in Denmark as a somewhat unruly prince in the early 1990s, but perceptions began to change after he graduated from Aarhus University in 1995 with a master’s degree in political science. He is the first member of the Danish royal family to complete his university education.
Queen Margaret II of Denmark, followed by Crown Prince of Denmark, Prince Frederik (left) and Prince Joachim (AFP)
According to a BBC report, he spent some time at Harvard University in the United States during his studies, where he enrolled under the pseudonym Fredrik Henriksen. He later served in the Danish Navy, where he was given the nickname “Bingo” – which he earned after his suit filled with water during a scuba diving course and he was forced to waddle like a penguin.
*Adventurous and open-minded
The 55-year-old earned his name as an adventurer, taking part in a four-month skiing trip across Greenland in 2000. He was hospitalized due to skiing and scooter accidents.
Prince Frederick applauds while attending the men’s singles tennis match between Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and Danish Holger Röhn on the eighth day of the 2023 Wimbledon Championship (AFP)
Frederick once said: “I don’t want to lock myself in a fortress. “I want to be myself, a human being,” and he insisted that he would adhere to that even after assuming the throne.
*A mysterious first meeting with his wife
Crown Prince Frederick is known for his passion for the environment. He pledged to “steer the ship” of Denmark into the future. His Australian-born wife, Princess Mary, grew up on the island of Tasmania and was working as a lawyer when they met in 2000, in Sydney during the Olympics. She once said in an interview that she did not know that he was the Prince of Denmark when they met.
Prince Frederik and his wife, Princess Mary, after arriving from a visit to Spain in Copenhagen last November (AFP)
They are considered by some to represent modern values and have tried to give their four children – a daughter, a son and twins – as normal an upbringing as possible, sending them mainly to public schools. There will be no official coronation ceremony for Crown Prince Frederick. Instead, his arrival will be announced from Amalienborg Castle in Copenhagen on the same day. He will become king of Denmark and head of state in the country, as well as in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.
It is worth noting that the 83-year-old Queen of Denmark, who assumed her position in 1972, became the longest-reigning European monarch on the throne after the death of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. In February, she underwent successful back surgery. “The surgery naturally led to thinking about the future and whether it was time to leave the responsibility to the next generation,” she said.
Official authority in Denmark rests with the elected parliament and government. The king is expected to remain aloof from partisan politics, and represent the nation in traditional duties ranging from official visits to National Day celebrations.
Queen Margaret II of Denmark and Prince Frederik (AFP)
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen thanked Queen Margaret for her dedication to performing her duties throughout her life. “It is still difficult to comprehend that now is the time to change the throne,” Frederiksen said in a statement, adding that many Danes have never known another king. She added, “Queen Margaret is a symbol of Denmark, and over the years her words and feelings have shaped our identity as a people and a nation,” according to a report by the Reuters news agency. Margaret was born in 1940 to the late King Frederik IX of Denmark and Queen Ingrid, and throughout her life she enjoyed great support from the Danes, who admired her tactful and creative personality. She is known for her love of archaeology and has been involved in several discoveries.
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2024-01-01 12:47:28
