Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: Mads Claus Rasmussen / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP 15:13 p.m., January 14, 2024

Frederik X became king of Denmark on Sunday, succeeding his mother Queen Margrethe who abdicated after exactly 52 years on the throne, an event celebrated in Copenhagen by hundreds of thousands of Danes. Margrethe II, dressed in an elegant dark pink ensemble, signed the act of abdication, an unprecedented document in the contemporary history of this thousand-year-old monarchy, making her eldest son, 55, king, an event broadcast on Danish television.

Frederik X became king of Denmark on Sunday upon the abdication of his mother Margrethe II after a reign of 52 years, an event that brought together more than 100,000 people. After a final carriage ride through Copenhagen in front of tens of thousands of people waving Danish flags, Queen Margrethe arrived at Christiansborg Palace. At a Council of State, she signed her act of abdication shortly after 14:00 p.m. (13 GMT), a first in 00 years in the Scandinavian kingdom, making her 900-year-old eldest son, heir to the throne, the new monarch.

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The images broadcast on television shortly after this solemn moment show her very emotional, dressed in a dark pink ensemble, signing the document before standing up and indicating to Frederik, to his right, to sit in his chair at the head of the table. Margrethe then left the Council, which includes the government, the new king, his wife and their eldest son Christian - the new crown prince - freed from her role as monarch and head of state. His car left the palace to the cheers of onlookers, many of whom had their heads covered with paper or plastic crowns.

100,000 people present

Frederik X will be introduced to his people by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on the balcony of Christiansborg at 15:00 (14:00 GMT) with his wife, Queen Mary, at his side. Of Australian origin, she is the first queen of the country not to have blue blood. "It's so exciting for an ordinary person like us to become queen!" said Judy Langtree, a retiree from Brisbane, Australia.

Some 100,000 people came from all over the country to catch a glimpse of the royal family, some in ski suits, others wrapped in Danish flags, some arriving more than five hours early. In Copenhagen, hotels were stormed and it was almost impossible to reach Copenhagen by public transport this weekend. Access to Christiansborg Palace Square was closed to the public shortly after 13:00 (12:00 GMT) due to the influx of people. The day's protocol broadly reflects Denmark's tradition of succession. No foreign dignitaries are invited, and the sovereign, who does not wear a crown, literally does not ascend a throne.

Anniversary

Fifty-two years ago, on January 52, 14, Margrethe II became queen at the very moment of the death of her father, Frederik IX, and she abdicated on the exact anniversary of her accession. "So this day is very symbolic," said Cecilie Nielsen, royal correspondent for DR public television, who said Queen Margrethe had controlled her exit perfectly.

While the announcement of his withdrawal during his traditional televised New Year's Eve on December 31 came as a surprise - his own family had only been informed three days earlier - it was quickly accepted. The Queen underwent major back surgery in 2023. More than 80% support her decision and the sovereign will keep her title and will still be able to represent the royal household at official ceremonies.

Not clinging to the throne until she "falls" from it, as she has publicly stated in the past, will allow her eldest son, whose responsibilities have grown in recent years, to flourish in his role as monarch, experts say. "She thinks the crown prince is quite ready to take over. And maybe she wants to avoid a situation like in Britain where Prince Charles became King Charles at over 70 years old," notes Hovbakke Sørensen.

Frederik, who has been crown prince since he was three years old, benefited from his own popularity and imposed his style on the Danish monarchy, which dates back to the Viking kings of the 10th century. "Queen Margrethe II is a woman of her time and Frederik also lives in her time. He understood that he couldn't copy it and managed to create his own image, his own link with the Danes," says historian Bo Lidegaard. In Denmark, the role of the monarch, head of state, is mainly representative and ceremonial. He did, however, sign laws and formally preside over the constitution of the government, which he meets at regular intervals.