by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024
King Frederik X is proclaimed King of Denmark from the balcony of Christiansborg Castle; Credit – Af Kefr4000 – Eget arbejde, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=143973885
The last Danish accession took place when Queen Margrethe II abdicated the throne on January 14, 2024, the 52nd anniversary of her accession and death of her father King Frederik IX, in favor of the elder of her two sons King Frederik X. Denmark formerly had a coronation but in 1660, the coronation was replaced with a ceremony of anointing. The new monarch would arrive at the coronation site already wearing the crown and was then anointed. The ceremony of anointing was abolished with the introduction of the Danish Constitution in 1849, and a simple proclamation has been used since then. Denmark has regalia but the regalia plays no role in the ceremonies for a new monarch.
Queen Margrethe II and her husband Prince Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark wave from the balcony at Christiansborg Palace on January 15, 1972, after the proclamation of her succession to the Danish throne. The couple’s two young sons Frederik and Joachim can be seen.
In the event of the death of the Danish sovereign, the accession is automatic and the new sovereign is simply proclaimed by the Prime Minister from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish Parliament, in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, as happened when Queen Margrethe II acceded to the Danish throne in 1972 when her father King Frederik IX died. However, because Queen Margrethe II was abdicating, a meeting of the Council of State was necessary.
Queen Margrethe II, Crown Prince Frederik, and Prince Christian meeting with the Council of State on January 14, 2024 – Photo: Keld Navntoft, Kongehuset © File type: jpg
The accession of King Frederik X took place during a meeting of the Council of State in the State Council Hall at Christiansborg Palace, at the moment Queen Margrethe II signed the declaration of her abdication. Queen Margrethe gave up her seat and offered it to the new King. At the same time, the new heir to the throne, Crown Prince Christian, took the seat to the right of his father, the King. After this, the visibly moved Queen Margrethe said “Gud bevare kongen” (God save the King) and left the State Council Hall.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed King Frederik X’s accession to the throne
Shortly afterward, King Frederik X stepped out on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed King Frederik X’s accession to the throne. According to Danish state custom, the Prime Minister proclaimed three times: “Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II has abdicated. Long live His Majesty King Frederik X!” This was followed by the traditional ninefold cheer from the crowd of tens of thousands who turned out to witness the proclamation.
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Works Cited
- Flantzer, Susan. (2024). The Abdication of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and The Accession of King Frederik X of Denmark. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/the-abdication-of-queen-margrethe-ii-of-denmark-and-the-accession-of-king-frederik-x-of-denmark/
- Flantzer, Susan. (2023). Which Monarchies Have Coronations? What Succession Ceremonies Do Other Monarchies Have? Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/which-monarchies-have-coronations-what-succession-ceremonies-do-the-other-monarchies-have/
- Programme for the Succession of the Throne. Kongehuset (Danish Royal House). (2024). https://www.kongehuset.dk/en/news/programme-for-the-succession-of-the-throne
- Wikimedia Foundation. (2024). Abdication of Margrethe II. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdication_of_Margrethe_II