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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed Frederik X king from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. The live broadcast was conducted by the Danmarks Radio channel, TASS reports.

Frederiksen spoke about the succession to the throne and thanked the Queen Mother for her 52-year reign. The Prime Minister said three times: “Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II has abdicated the throne. Long live His Majesty King Frederick X! Together with the spectators on the square, the prime minister several times proclaimed “Hurray!” in honor of the new monarch.

The king gave a speech in which he also thanked his mother, and concluded it with his motto, “Bound, bound, for the Kingdom of Denmark.” After this, Frederick was joined on the balcony by his wife, Queen Mary, and their children.

On the square in front of the palace and on the streets leading to it, many spectators with red and white flags gathered, many with “golden” crowns on their heads. People took their seats in the morning. The king shed tears when he heard their greetings and saw the red and white flags.

Earlier, during a meeting of the Council of State, Queen Margrethe II abdicated the throne: sitting at the head of the table, she signed the documents, handed them to the Prime Minister, and then gave up her seat to her son and with the words “God save the King!” left the hall. The council meeting was also attended by members of the government, Frederick's son Prince Christian (future Christian XI). Margrethe's signature automatically made the 55-year-old crown prince the new monarch, Frederick X.

At least 82% of Danes are confident that Frederick will fulfill his duties as king with honor. His wife Mary is also very loved by the country's residents - 86%.

The decision to step down, announced by the Queen in her New Year's speech, is unprecedented in Denmark's recent history and breaks with the long-standing tradition that a reigning monarch vacates the throne only upon death. Margrethe, 83, explained that after back surgery in February 2023, she wondered if it was time to “pass on responsibility to the next generation” and realized that now was the right time.

Support for the monarchy as an institution remains high at 78%, according to a Voxmeter poll conducted after the reigning queen announced her decision to relinquish the throne.

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Photo: independent.co.uk