In Denmark, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who announced her decision to abdicate in her New Year's speech, handed over the throne to her son Frederik IX after 52 years of reign. Many Danes gathered in the capital Copenhagen to witness this moment.
Margrethe, the first king or queen to abdicate voluntarily in the nearly 900-year history of the Danish monarchy, officially announced her abdication by signing a declaration of abdication at the State Council in parliament, Reuters reported. Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies in the world, does not have a coronation ceremony, unlike countries like the UK.
Frederik 10th was officially crowned King of Denmark and the meeting was attended by government officials, Margrethe, her 55-year-old son Frederik, his Australian-born wife Mary and their eldest son Christian, 18. In the country where Frederik 10th officially became king, his wife Mary became the queen and his son Christian became the new crown prince.
Following the signing of the proclamation, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is expected to proclaim the new king from the balcony of the parliament building and Frederik is expected to deliver a short speech. Despite the freezing cold, tens of thousands of people from different parts of Denmark gathered in the capital to witness this moment.
One of them, Soren Kristian Bisgaard, 30, said, "We came here today because history is being made before our eyes. We had to be there," he said. "I'm very attached to the royal family. I'm in the Royal Guard myself, I've stood guard at the royal palace. I'm proud of myself for doing this and for being here today," said Bisgaard, who drank champagne with three friends and sat on camping chairs in front of parliament.
Later in the day the new king and queen are expected to travel to the Amalienborg residence, built in the 1750s and located in the center of Copenhagen.
On the other hand, the new king and queen are said to have ascended to the throne at a time when public support for the monarchy is very high in the country. A survey conducted at the time Margrethe announced her abdication showed that 82 percent of the public expected Frederik to do well or very well in his new role. A similar expectation was expressed by 86 percent of the respondents for Mary.
